Saint of the Day – 15 February – Saint Walfrid/Galfrido della Gherardesca (Died c765) Abbot.

Saint of the Day – 15 February – Saint Walfrid/Galfrido della Gherardesca (Died c765) Abbot. Born in 8th Century Pisa, Italy and died on 15 February 765 at Palazuollo, Italy of natural causes. Also known as – Galfrido, Gualfredo, Gualfredus, Qualfredo, Qualfredo della Gherardesca, Valfred, Vilfrid, Walfridus, Wilfrido, Walfredo.

Galfrido della Gherardesca was born in the 8th Century in Pisa in the region of Tuscany in central Italy. He was the eldest of five siblings and became a prominent citizen of Pisa. He married Thesia and had five sons and at least one daughter.

Midway through life, Walfrid and his wife both yearned to seek a life dedicated to God alone in a monastic community. Walfrid joined two other married men, his friend Fortis from Corsica and the latter’s relative, Gunduald and together the three founded the Benedictine Monastery “Palazzuolo” in Monte Verde between Volterra and Piombino. They also founded a Nunnery nearby for their wives and Walfrid’s daughter, Rattruda. They dedicated their Monastery to Saint Peter .

Walfrid ruled the “Palazzuolo” from the beginning as Abbot. Many Novices came to join the Monks, including Walfrid’s favourite son Gimfrid (later the second Abbot) and Gunduald’s only son, Andreas, who would become the Monastery’s third Abbot and write Walfrid’s biography. Soon the community numbered 60 Monks. Gimfrid was Ordained a Priest but some time later he fled the Monastery and took several men and valuables with him. Walfrid sent a party out to look for his son but also asked that he be given a sign which would remind him, for the rest of his life, of his moment of weakness. Gimfrid was brought back on the third day with his middle finger on his right hand so damaged that he could never use it again. He repented and did penance and became the Monastery’s second Abbot after his father, who ruled wisely for ten years longer, after this incident.

Walfrid died on 15 February 765 in Palazzuolo. On the same day, his wife is also said to have died and they were buried together. He was Canonised on 12 September 1861 by Pope Pius IX (1846-1878).