ON ST. GELASIUS, BISHOP OF POITIERS.
V century.
His cult, eulogy, the time of his life.
Gelasius, bishop of Poitiers (St.)
J. P.
Among the Passed Over at this XXVI day of August, on occasion of St. Justinus, bishop of Poitiers, deferred in the same place to the Kalends of September, we said that St. Gelasius, who governed the same chair, is marked on those two days; but that we should treat of him on this day, for the reason which we there also indicated. Castellanus sets this announcement concerning him: At Poitiers, of St. Gelasius (commonly Gelais), bishop. Add the new Parisian Martyrology, in which the same holy Prelate is related today. In the new edition of the Gallia Christiana, volume 2, column 1142, St. Gelasius is woven in as third in order among the bishops of Poitiers; and he is praised in these words: No less is it hidden from us who St. Gelasius was, except that he is read to lie in the basilica of St. Hilary at Poitiers. To his name is dedicated a notable priory near Niort in the diocese of Poitiers, which we read to be subject to Cluny in the catalogue of the monasteries depending upon that arch-monastery, which the Cluniac Library exhibits. Further, they deliver that this priory was founded by Ralph of Lusignan in the year MCIX, who gave the surname of St. Gelasius to Hugh his first-born, from whom it afterward passed to the whole most noble family. That the bishop Gelasius subscribed the first council of Orleans, Beslius wrongly writes in his book On the Bishops of Poitiers, page 5; but I do not find the number of the said council in the same place. Castellanus and the Parisian Martyrology which has been cited attach him to the V century. Nearly the same time is indicated in the cited edition of the Gallia Christiana; for after St. Hilary, who is there set as the first bishop of Poitiers, and who at column 1140 is said to have died in the year 367, there is marked at column [ ] Pascentius I, and at the next column St. Gelasius. You have, reader, these few things which have occurred to us to be noted concerning St. Gelasius.