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Biography
Reginald of Orleans, also known as Reginald of Saint-Gille (born 1180–1183 in Saint-Gilles or in Orleans, died in 1220 in Paris)was a French Dominican Catholic Saint.
According to some sources he was born in 1183 in Saint-Gilles, in the department of Gard in the south of France, while according to other sources he was born in 1180 in Orleans, France. He received his education in canonical law from the University of Paris, where in 1206 he obtained the title of doctor. He started lecturing at the same university in 1206 and continued till 1211. In 1211 he moved to Orleans where he was made a dean of the Orléans Cathedral. According to legendReginald, along with the then bishop of Orleans, Manasseh de Seignelay, departed for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1218. Along the way, in Rome, he fell seriously ill. He prayed for his health while on his deathbed. He saw in a vision that the Blessed Virgin Mary visited him and showed him a white scapular to be worn in addition to the traditional habit of the Dominicans. After the vision, he recovered and was the first to use a scapular designed like the one in his vision. On the way back to Rome from the Holy Land, he founded a monastery in Sicily.
When he reached Rome, he was sent to the Christian community of Bologna in order to start a preaching mission, he was also given charge fo the priory. There, Reginald moved the order from the Santa Maria della Mascarella to the larger, newly built monastery of St. Nicholas (now known as the monastery of St. Dominic). His became well known for his oratorical abilities and enthusiasm in his sermons. In 1219 he was called back to Paris to pursue another preaching mission. It was during this mission that he was able to inspire Jordan of Saxony, who would go on to become one of the first leaders of the Dominican Order. He died in early February, 1220. His remains were buried in Notre Dame des Champs church in Paris. He was beatified by Pope Pius IX on July 8, 1875. His feast is held on February 1.