Gerard Majella
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Gerard Majella | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 23, 1725 |
| Died | October, 1755 |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Canonized | December 11, 1904 |
| Feast | October 16 |
| Patron saint of | children, pregnant women, pro-life movement, false accusations, lay brothers |
Saint Gerard Majella is a Catholic saint. He is the patron saint of children (and unborn children in particular); childbirth; mothers (and expectant mothers in particular); motherhood; falsely accused people; good confessions; lay brothers; and Muro Lucano, Italy.
Gerard was born as Gerardo Maiella on April 23, 1725 in Muro Lucano, Italy. He was the son of a tailor who died when Gerard was 12, leaving the family in poverty. Gerard tried to join the Capuchin order, but his health prevented it. He was accepted as a Redemptorist lay brother serving his congregation as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor.
When falsely accused by a pregnant woman of being the father of her child, he retreated to silence; she later recanted and cleared him, and thus began his association as patron of all aspects of pregnancy. He was reputed to bilocate and read consciences. His last will consisted of the following small note on the door of his cell: "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills."
Gerard died on October 16, 1755 at Caposele, Italy of tuberculosis. He was aged 30. Gerard was Beatified on January 29, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII, and was canonized on December 11, 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X.
He was featured on an Italian 45-euro stamp in May 2005.
The feast day of Saint Gerard Majella is October 16.
For additional information, see:
- A Treasury of Catholic Reading, by John Chapin
- Hope in the Handerchief of a Saint, by Peter T Farrelly Jr
- Catholic Encyclopedia, by J Magnier
- For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
- New Catholic Dictionary
Readings
"The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible." -Saint Gerard Majella
"I see in my neighbor the Person of Jesus Christ." -Saint Gerard Majella
"Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it to lean upon that which cannot give support?" -Saint Gerard Majella
"Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?" -Saint Gerard Majella
