December 5th is the feast day of Saint Gerard
December 5th is the feast day of Saint Gerard , patron saint of the city of Braga. He was the first archbishop of Braga and his chapel, located in the Primatial Cathedral, is open to the public on this day. Instead of flowers, the altars are decorated with fruit, in homage to a legend that tells that, on the verge of death, Saint Gerard asked for fruit, and miraculously, the trees around him were filled with fruit, despite the harsh winter. Saint Gerard was born in Gascony and became a Benedictine monk, standing out as a librarian and teacher. Later, he was appointed archbishop of Braga, where he led important ecclesiastical reforms and obtained autonomy from the Pope for the Cathedral of Braga, strengthening the local Church and its jurisdiction over several dioceses. He died in 1108 in Bornes de Aguiar and was buried in the Cathedral of Braga, where his relics are venerated to this day.
Did you know??