Saint Gerard Majella 18th Century
Saint Gerard Majella was born on April 6, 1726, and he died on October 16, 1755. He was an Italian lay brother of the Congregation of the Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists. While Saint Gerard Majella was alive for he prayed for children, unborn children, women in childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, the falsely accused, good confessions, lay brothers, and Muro Lucano, Italy (where he was born). Now that he is deceased, these people ask his intercession. He is the Patron saint of mothers. Saint Gerard Majella has some amazing miracles associated with him, which are listed below. Do you find these miracles amazing?
Saint Gerard Majella Biography
Saint Gerard Majella was the youngest of five children. He was apparently frail from birth, and when he was 12, his father died, which left the family poor. He took an apprenticeship and then he got a job as a servant to work for the local Bishop of Lacedonia. When the Bishop died, he went back to work in his trade.
He tried to join the Capuchin Order twice, but was prevented by his health. In 1749, he finally joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as Redemptorists, which was for lay people. The order had been set up in 1732 by Alphonsus Liguori. The essentially missionary order was dedicated to “preaching the word of God to the poor.” Its apostolate is principally focused on the giving of missions and retreats.
During Saint Gerard Majella’s life, he developed a close bond with the local peasant community. With the Redemptorist community, he was at times a gardener, sacristan, tailor, porter, cook, carpenter, and clerk of works on the new buildings at Caposele. When he was 27, he faced scandal after being identified by a young pregnant woman as the father of her child. To avoid exposing the father, Gerard seemingly accepted the blame silently. Unto every life, even his, a little rain must fall. The women eventually recanted.
He died at 29 of tuberculosis on October 16, 1755, in Materdomini, Italy. His last will has been written as a small note on the door of his cell: “Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills.” That is all.
Saint Gerard Majella Veneration
Saint Gerard Majella was beatified in Rome on January 29, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII. and he was canonized less than twelve years later on December 11, 1904, by Pope Pius X. In 1977, St. Gerard’s Chapel in St. Lucy’s Church was dedicated as a national shrine. The church is in Newark, New Jersey. Each year during his Feast days, there are lights, music, food stands, and a street procession. People come from all over to celebrate and party. Devotees also visit the shrine throughout the year to petition the help of St. Gerard.
The Saint Gerard Majella Annual Novena takes place annually at St. Joseph’s Church in Dundalk, Ireland. The nine-day novena is the biggest festival of faith in Ireland. St. Joseph’s sponsors the St. Gerard’s Family League, an association of Christians united in prayer for their own and other families, to preserve Christian values in their home and family lives. Also, the Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella is a basilica in Materdomini, Italy, dedicated to him.
Saint Gerard Majella Miracles
Some of Saint Gerard Majella’s reported miracles include bringing a boy back to life who had fallen from a high cliff, blessing the small supply of wheat belonging to a poor family and making it last until the next harvest, and multiplying the bread that he was distributing to the poor (he did this several times). One day, he walked across the water (like Jesus) to lead a boatload of fishermen through stormy waves to the safety of the shore. He had bilocation and the ability to read souls.
Conclusion
Saint Gerard Majella was a sickly and frail man who died young, of tuberculosis. Nevertheless, he tried and tried to join a religious order. Eventually, he was able to join a lay order. Even though he led a holy life, he was accused by a woman of fathering her child out of wedlock. His life proves a couple of things. Despite being chaste and devoted, it is possible to have evil enter your life. Also, he is purported to have accomplished great miracles.
