[1] Gérard was clothed as a Benedictine monk on 27 May 1519 by his great-uncle Antoine de Berghes, abbot of St Bertin in Saint-Omer.
He studied at the Collège de Boncourt in Paris and was ordained to the priesthood on 25 September 1530 by Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads, archbishop of Trier.
As abbot he founded a school for poor students attached to the monastery, and another in Poperinge.
[1] He died in Saint-Omer on 17 March 1577 and in accordance with his final wishes was buried in the Jesuit chapel, despite the opposition of the cathedral chapter.
[1] In 1667 his tomb was opened so that his remains could be transferred to the new Jesuit church, and they were found to be in an unusually good state of preservation.