Gerardo of Borgo San Donnino

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Gerard of Borgo San Donnino (Italian: Gerardo di Borgo San Donnino) was a Sicilian friar of the Franciscan order.

Born in Borgo San Donnino (now Fidenza), Gerardo went to Paris to complete his studies. There, in 1248, according to Salimbene da Parma, he attempted to convince Louis IX of France not to organize the Eighth Crusade.

He was a Joachimite, a follower of he millenarianist ideas of Joachim of Fiore (Gioacchino da Fiore). Around 1250 Gerardo published in Paris a book entitled Introductorium in Evangelium Aeternum where he identified the "Order of Justs," supposed to rule the Roman Catholic Church after the advent of the Age of the Holy Spirit, in the Franciscan order.

This text was examined by a commission of cardinals set up by Pope Alexander IV worried about the diffusion of Joachimite theories among the Franciscans. In 1255, the council ordered the destruction of the book and in 1263 Gerardo was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He remained in prison until his death in 1276, still refusing to recant his beliefs.

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Last updated on Sunday July 06, 2008 at 05:23:44 PDT (GMT -0700)
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