Blessed Guerric of Igny

Humbert, abbot of Igny in the diocese of Châlons, having resigned from his offic e, it w as Guerric who came to replace him in 1138. The new abbot, following the example of his master, applied himself above all to instructing his brothers through his words and edifying them by his examples. He showed admirable patience during the long and cruel illnesses that came to assail him. When he felt his end appro aching, he had a c ollection of homilies he had composed brought to him and cast it into the fire. He feared transgressing the rule that forbids publishing anything without the assent of the general council. But his disciples had copies of them, and these copies were printed and have proven the talent of the blessed Guerric. His works offer solid morality, often novel thoughts, and sublime features. The blessed Guerric died on August 19, 1157.

His * Sermons * have had several editions. Jean de Gaigny , chancellor of the Church and the University of Paris, produced one of th ese editions by order of Francis I, based on a copy from the Abbey of Vaulaisant, under the title: *Divi Guerrici abbatiae Igniacensis sermones antiqui, eruditionis et consolationis pleni*, Paris, 1539, in-8°: it was reproduced in 1547, and followed by a French translation by the same author. Another edition of these *Sermons*, corrected against ancient manuscripts, a ppeare d in Antwerp in 1546; a third was printed in Paris in 1563; a fourth in Lyon in 1630. The text of the Antwerp edition was inserted into the great *Libraries of the Fathers* of Cologne and Lyon, and into the *Library of Preachers* by Father Combeïus. Trithemius attributes to Blessed Guerric a volume of *Letters*, Sanderus *Commentaries on the Psalms*, and Father Lelong a *Commentary on Saint Matthew*.

Cf. Continuators of G odescard.