Sermons on the Song of Songs, Volume 2: Volume 20

Gilbert became abbot of Swineshead in the Lincolnshire fens--known as "hollandia"--shortly after that and other savigniac abbeys were incorporated in 1147 into the Cistercian Order. He may have been trained--perhaps even at Citeaux--as a Cistercian and sent to help with the transition. A great admirer of Bernard, a friend of neighboring abbots Aelred of Rielvaulx and Roger of Byland, and the spiritual father of his monks, he was also their guardian in turbulent times.