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Geoffrey (Geoffroi) of Auxerre

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Geoffrey (Geoffroi) Of Auxerre

a French theologian, was born at Auxerre about 1120. He studied under Abelard, and was at the University of Paris when St. Bernard came there to preach on the conversion of the clergy (de conversiona ad clericos). Deeply impressed by Bernard's preaching, he entered the convent of Clairvaux in 1140. For thirteen years he was principal secretary and traveling companion of St. Bernard. In 1161 or 1162 he was elected abbot of Clairvaux, but the monks, dissatisfied with the severity of his rule, petitioned Alexander III to depose him. Geoffrey voluntarily resigned, and withdrew to Citeaux. In 1167 the abbot of Citeaux sent helum to Italy to attempt a reconciliation between the pope and emperor Frederick, but he did not succeed. The following year he endeavored to make peace between the archbishop of Canterbury and Henry II of England, who invited him to remain in his kingdom. Geoffrey became successively abbot of Fosse- Neuve in 1170, and of Haute-Combe in 1176. We have no information concerning him after 1188, though Oudin claims that he lived until 1215. He compiled the letters of St. Bernard, and his own writings have been inserted in the works of that saint. A number of his letters, together with a life of St. Bernard, and a tract against Gilbert de la Porree, will be found in Bernardi Opesa vol. 2. He is considered as the author of the Compendium Gaufredi de corpore Christi et sacramento Eucharistiae, a manuscript tract against Abelard. See Oudin, De Scriptor. eccles. volume 2; Hist. litter. de la France, 14:430; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 20:27 sq.