Memorial: 16 October
Profile
Son of a tailor who died when the boy was 12, leaving the family in poverty. Gerard tried to join the Capuchins, but his health prevented it; accepted as a Redemptorist lay brother serving his order as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor. Wonder worker.
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. Reputed to bi-locate 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."
Born: April 1725 at Muro, Italy
Died : 1755 of tuberculosis
Canonized: 11 December 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X
Patronage childbirth, children, expectant mothers, falsely accused people, good confessions, lay brothers, motherhood, mothers, pregnant women, pro-life movement, unborn children
Reading
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