St. Gilbert of Sempringham

Founder of the Gilbertines

Gilbert was born in Lincolnshire, England, around 1083 to a wealthy knight and his wife. Deformed at birth, he was unfit to be a knight, and instead dedicated himself to learning.

Over time, Gilbert was ordained a priest, and made pastor of two churches on his father’s estate.

Among his parishioners were seven devout young women who lived under his direction. Hoping to establish a religious community for them, he built a modest house and developed an order based upon the rule of St. Benedict.

Soon, he admitted lay sisters to their community, and later, as the order gradually spread, lay brothers to provide manual labor.

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