Gerard of Potenza
Encyclopedia
Saint Gerard of Potenza, also Gerard La Porta (d. 30 October 1118) was a Roman Catholic saint and a bishop of Potenza in Italy
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into a noble family. He travelled into southern Italy in search of holy sites, but when he reached Potenza
he decided to dedicate himself to the apostolic life. Such was his drive that when the bishop died, the people and clergy chose Gerard as his successor. He was proclaimed bishop at Acerenza
and was in post for eight years. Only a year after Gerard's death in 1118, Pope Callixtus II
declared him a saint viva voce. His relics are kept in a sarcophagus
in Potenza Cathedral, which is dedicated to him.
of his relics, but 30 October, the day of his death, is also kept.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
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Life
Gerard was born in PiacenzaPiacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
into a noble family. He travelled into southern Italy in search of holy sites, but when he reached Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
he decided to dedicate himself to the apostolic life. Such was his drive that when the bishop died, the people and clergy chose Gerard as his successor. He was proclaimed bishop at Acerenza
Acerenza
Acerenza is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-History:With its strategic position 800 m above sea-level, Acerenza has been sacked by a series of invaders....
and was in post for eight years. Only a year after Gerard's death in 1118, Pope Callixtus II
Pope Callixtus II
Pope Calixtus II , born Guy de Vienne, the fourth son of William I, Count of Burgundy , was elected Pope on February 1, 1119, after the death of Pope Gelasius II . His pontificate was shaped by the Investiture Controversy, which he was able to settle through the Concordat of Worms...
declared him a saint viva voce. His relics are kept in a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
in Potenza Cathedral, which is dedicated to him.
Veneration
Saint Gerard's principal feast day is 30 May, the day of the translationTranslation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
of his relics, but 30 October, the day of his death, is also kept.