B. GILIA 349 In 1400 she was appointed abbess. Thenceforth the monastery grew stricter and holier. She restored the discipline, which had become lax. She would not suffer the nuns to go out visiting nor to receive visits; and whereas individual nuns had things which they called their own, she insisted on community of pro- perty. The rule of abstinence from flesh meat had fiallen into disuse, and was strictly restored by her. She at- tended the poor in the hospital, and had strangers and pilgrims entertained in their proper place, namely, in the house of the Father Confessor. She encoun- tered opposition both from seculars and ecclesiastics; but she was firm, and as the rule grew stricter, the community grew holier. Pious parents were happy if they could get a daughter into her flock, so that the house filled, and Grer- trude had more (spiritual) children than her married sister. She was prudent in the worldly affairs of the convent. She died at the age of sixty, and was buried in the choir among the priests, on the ground that she was as good as a priest, because all the sons of David were called priests (II. Paraleipomenon Begum, chap, viii.), and as Christ among the Apos- tles, so she among her predecessors, the abbesses, was thirteenth and chief. She was worshipped as a saint at Biloka. Vita B. Gertrudis de Pottelis, in Sanderus, Flandria Illustrata, lib. ix. Mabillon. Bucelinus. AA.SS,, Prseier, B. Gertrude (16), Nov. 27, V. Began at nine to serve God, and was a Cistercian nun from childhood in the monastery of Mont S. Sauveur, in the diocese of Liege. Henriquez. Bucelinus. St. Gerveve. St. GKNBviiivB, of Paris, is so called in Eouergue. Chaste- lain. St. Gerwis, Feb. 6, V., in Silvolde. Mentioned by Greven, and in MS. Floriario, and several calendars; but Bollandus could obtain no information concerning her. AA.SS, St. Getulia, June 1, M. with St. AucEGA. AA.SS. St. Geva (l), Jan. 25, V. M. (See Elvira.) St. Geva (2), Feb. G. 9th century. Wife of St. Ewerwald. Aunt of St. Thiadild. AA,SS, St. Ghani. {See Faith, Hope, and Charity.) B. Gherardesca, Gebardbsca. St. Ghiselindy with Herwig and Jutta (1). St Giacinta Mariscotti, Hya- cinth. St. Gibitrude, Dec. 7, Oct. 26, and Jan. 23. + c. 655. She was very desirous to become a nun at Brie, imder St. Faba, to whom she was nearly related, and who was anxious to welcome her ; but her parents refused their con- sent, as they wanted to make a grand alliance. They even forbade her to frequent the church and spend so much time in devotion. In her distress, Gibi- trude sought the help of the abbess, saying she feared that her parents would extinguish the light of her soul, and thus deprive her of eternal light. Her father was struck down with fever, and begged her to pray for his recovery. Her prayer was heard, and he withdrew his opposition to her wish. She took the veil at Brie, and lived there piously for many years. St. Fara was very ill, and appeared to be dying, but Gibitrude prayed that her own life might be taken instead of the more valuable life of the holy mother. She prayed that Fara might survive her nuns, which was granted. Gibitrude was taken away first by a fever, but on presenting herself with a troop of others for admission to paradise, the Lord re- proached her with having borne a little grudge against three of her companions. She was sent back to her mortal life to complete her repentance. She humbly confessed her fault in presence of all the community, and asked pardon of the sisters. After six months she died of fever, evident signs of sanctity and divine favour attending her last moments. She is worshipped, on Oct. 26, in the diocese of Meaux. Cr6tien Du Plessis, Hist, de VEgliae de Meaux and Calendrier propre du diocese de Meaux. She is men- tioned in the Life of St. Fara, Dec. 7. Mabillon. AA.SS, 0£.B, Butler. Bucelinus, Jan. 23. B. Gilia, or Egidia. 3rd O.S.F.
