John Gualbert was born at Florence around 995. One Good Friday, accompanied by armed retainers, he met his brother’s murderer, unarmed and alone; he was about to slay him when the murderer fell at his feet begging forgiveness for the love of Christ crucified. John was touched by grace, recalling our Lord’s command to love one’s enemies, and embraced him as a brother. Soon afterwards he became a monk and founded at Vallombrosa in Tuscany the new order of Vallombrasa under the Rule of St. Benedict. At this period, simony and clerical immorality were rife in Italy. St. John Gualbert, by his firmness and preaching, successfully opposed these grave disorders. He died in 1073 having paved the way for the Gregorian reform.