GOSWIN, ST.

Benedictine abbot, scholar (known also as Gossen, Goduin); b. Douai; d. anchin, Oct. 9, 1165 or Oct. 10, 1166. Goswin studied at Paris. Despite the attempts of his master Joscelin, later bishop of Soissons, to dissuade him, he became a fierce opponent of Peter abelard on Mont St. Geneviève. Goswin then taught as a canon in douai. He entered the monastery of Anchin, near Douai, c. 1112, under Abbot Alvisus and took an interest in monastic reform, notably in the monasteries of St. Crispin and St. Médard of Soissons, and of St. Remigius of Reims. As prior of St. Médard, Goswin received Abelard after the latter's condemnation at the Council of Soissons in 1121. In 1131, Goswin succeeded Alvisus as abbot of Anchin. During his abbacy, Goswin encouraged his monks to produce manuscripts and to illuminate them. Some splendid examples survive in the library of the city of Douai. He remained at Anchin until his death. Goswin's cult was propagated early at Douai and Saint-Amand.

Feast: Oct. 7 and 9.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum Oct. 4:1084–94, two vitae written very soon after his death, excerpts. v. cousins, ed., Petri Abaelardi opera, 2 v. (Paris 1849–59) 1:43–58. l. h. cottineau Répetoire topobibliographique des abbayes et prieurés (Mâcon 1935–39) 1:91–92. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheureux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 10:294–295. m. g. blayo, Dictionnaire d'historie et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912) 2:1516–24. a. m. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum (Metten 1933–38) 3:149–151.

[v. i. j. flint]