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339 B. GERARDESCA 330 leaving her to starve. After a few years be returned repentant, was converted by ber prayers and example, and led a most exemplary life. Some years afterwards, when sbe was a widow, she converted Jerome Malnselli, a great scamp, who was persnaded by bis sister to visit Gentile. He became as eminent for bis piety as be bad formerly been for bis licentiousness, and assisted in organ- izing the Society of the Good Jesus. She bad a son named Leo, a priest, who lived witb ber, as did a pious woman related to tbem, and latterly Maluselli also. In the time of the plague tbey were banished from Bavenna on an accusation of superstition, but after- wards the holiness of Gentile was so well established, that the Pope gave ber leave to have mass celebrated in ber own room, as ber increasing infirmities prevented ber from going to church. On the death of Leo, 1528, she adopted Maluselli as ber son, and left him all ber property, including a bouse which sbe charged him to turn into a church, assuring him that although be had not tbe funds necessary to do so, God would raise up well-disposed persons, who would contribute by their alms to the good work, and so it proved. Seven years after her death. Pope Paul III. sent commissioners to Bavenna, at the request of Margaret PalaBologus, duchess of Mantua, to inquire concerning the miracles of BB. Margaret and G^entile, with a view to their canonization. Some years later be approved the Order of the Good Jesus, which followed the rule of St. Augustine, and was protected by the princes of the bouse of Gx)nzaga on account of their devotion to BB. Margaret and Gentile. It was, however, suppressed by Innocent X. in 1651, at which date it is said it had only ten members. (See B. Margaret of Ba- venna for further particulars.) Helyot, Ordrea Monaatigues. Ferrarius and Fir- man, her biographers, call Gentile "Blessed." Bollandus, AA.SS., calls her " Venerable." St. Georgia, Feb. 15, V., at Cler- mont, in France. End of 5th or be- ginning of 6th century. She bad many suitors, but as she had a vow of chas- tity, sbe rejected them all. As ber neighbours were carrying her to the basilica to be buried, an innumerable flock of white doves flew round and round the funeral procession. When they arrived in the church, the doves alighted on the roof. After Georgia was buried, they flew away to heaven. She is mentioned by Gregory of Tours. JBJf. AA.SS. B. Gerardesca, of Pisa, May 29. + 1240. Of the Third Order of Camal- doli. Sbe was of the family of the counts of La Gherardesca, was piously educated in a convent, married young, but had no children. Her mother prayed that Gerardesca might be blessed with a child. The Lord appeared to ber in ber sleep, and said, " As you desire that your child should have children, in order that your devout petition should be fulfilled, I offer her John the Evangelist for a son ; " and the Lord gave ber in the same hour, sage and cypress and rosemary. When tbe mother awoke, she went to ber neighbours to tell them ber dream, carrying the herbs in ber hands to show to them. She was punished for her pride by having her hands aiid arms covered with ulcers for two years. When Grerardesca heard of her mother's vision, she tried to persuade her husband to renounce the world, and spend the rest of their lives in devotion in some convent. As soon as be consented, she, fearing be might change his mind if sbe gave him time, hastened to the Abbot of St. Salvino, who was related to ber. From him tbey both received the religious habit, and the good abbot, wbo bad always loved them, now looked upon tbem as bis own children. Gerar- desca bad a little cell outside the monastery, while ber husband became one of the monks. As long as sbe lived in the world she never seemed happy, but now that she had adopted a religious life, she always appeared radiant with joy. One day, while praying in the garden in order to leave ber cell to her mother, who was visiting her, she was knocked down by a golden eagle. A few days afterwards it returned with a golden throne on its back. Christ came