Gerald of Salles was a French monastic reformer who lived from approximately 1050 or 1055 until 1120. Born in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin, he eventually became a canon regular and a hermit. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Cistercian movement by establishing various Benedictine houses that later integrated into the Cistercian order. His spiritual path was closely aligned with the Cistercian tradition, influencing the growth of monasticism in western France.
Monastic work
As a follower of Vitalis of Savigny and a contemporary of Robert of Arbrissel, Gerald established numerous religious communities. Most of these foundations operated under the Rule of Saint Benedict and were located south of the Loire. These houses, including sites like Cadouin and Dalon, eventually joined the Cistercian system, helping to spread that specific monastic spirituality across the region.
Veneration
He is recognized as a blessed in the Catholic tradition. Following his beatification in 1249, his remains were placed in a marble tomb located south of the altar at the Abbey of Notre-Dame des Châtelliers, where he died.