Gerard of Toul, St.
GERARD OF TOUL, ST.
Bishop; b. Cologne, c. 935; d. Toul, France, April 23,994. Having been a canon in Cologne, he was designated by Abp. Bruno of Cologne to replace Bishop gauzelin of toul in 963. Gerard completed there the foundation of Saint-Mansuy Abbey, begun by his predecessor. He erected a convent for women in honor of St. Gengoult, transformed c. 986 into a chapter of canons. The founding of the Maison–Dieu of Toul is also attributed to him. The cathedral consecrated in 981, a vast edifice characteristic of Ottonian art, was rebuilt through his care. His pastoral activity on behalf of parish life is not well known but seems to have been fruitful. His successor at Toul, Bruno of Egisheim, who became Pope leo ix, arranged for the elevation of Gerard's relics on Oct. 21, 1050.
Feast: April 23.
Bibliography: Bibliotheca hagiographicae latina antiquae et mediae aetatis 1:3431–34. Acta Sanctorum April 3:207–215. a. michel, Die Akten Gerhards von Toul als Werk Humberts und die Anfänge der päpstlichen Reform (Munich 1957). e. martin, Histoire des diocèses de Toul, de Nancy et de Saint–Dié 3 v. (Nancy 1900–03) v.1. p. viard, Catholicisme 4: 1870–71.
[j. choux]