- Gerard Majella
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Saint Gerard Majella Confessor Born April 6, 1726
Muro Lucano, Basilicata, Kingdom of NaplesDied October 16, 1755 (aged 29)
Materdomini (Caposele), Campania, Kingdom of NaplesHonored in Roman Catholic Church Beatified January 29, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII Canonized December 11, 1904 by Pope Pius X Major shrine Shrine of St. Gerard Majella, Materdomini, Campania Feast October 16 Patronage 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.[1] Saint Gerard Majella (April 6, 1726, Muro Lucano, Basilicata – October 16, 1755, Caposele, Campania) is a Roman Catholic saint. He is the saint whose intercession is requested for 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.
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Background
When he was born, he was given the name Gerard. He was the son of a tailor who died when Gerard was twelve, leaving the family in poverty. His mother then sent him to her brother so that he could teach Gerard how to sew and help the business. During this time, he was abused by a man whom his uncle sent to help him. He kept silent, but soon his uncle found out and the man who taught him resigned from the job. He loved to be like Jesus Crucified and tried at all costs to suffer. He tried to join the Capuchin order, but his health prevented it. He joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749.[2] 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 have bilocation and read consciences. His last will consisted of a small note on the door of his cell saying, "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills." He died on October 16, 1755 in Caposele of tuberculosis, aged 29.[1]
Veneration
Gerard Majella was beatified in Rome on January 29, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII. He was canonised less than twelve years later on December 11, 1904, by Pope Saint Pius X.[2] The feast day of Saint Gerard Majella is October 16. He was featured on an Italian 45-euro postage stamp in May 2005. The St. Gerard Majella Annual Novena takes place every year in St. Josephs Church, Dundalk, Ireland. This annual nine-day novena is the biggest festival of faith in Ireland.
In 1977, St. Gerard's chapel in St. Lucy's Church (Newark, New Jersey) was dedicated as a national shrine. Each year during the Feast days which include October 16, there are the traditional lights, music, food stands and the street procession, it is apparent that this Feast is a spiritual exercise with all of the essential activity centered around the ‘Saint’ and the Chapel. Devotees visit the Shrine also throughout the year to pray to and petition the help of this Miraculous Wonder Worker.[3]
The League of St Gerard (Redemptorists, Clapham, London) provides spiritual support and prayers for all expectant mothers and families.
Two towns in Quebec, Canada, are named in his honour: one in the Montérégie region and another in the Lanaudière region.
The International Prize for poetry St. Gerard Majella
The International Prize for poetry is how St. Gerard Majella initiative to promote culture, the written expression of feelings and emotions that express the figure of St. Gerard Majella. To give voice to those colors that often, for a thousand reasons, remain locked within the soul of each one .... The event is 'organized by volunteer Cuorimuresi of Muro Lucano, location of' Basilicata. The first edition of 2009, was attended there about a hundred participants.[citation needed]
Quotations
Some quotations attributed to Gerard Majella include:
- "The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made invisible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible."
- "I see in my neighbor the Person of Jesus Christ."
- "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?"
- "Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?"
Further reading
- His life story and prayers can be found at SaintGerard.com
- Chapin, John, "A Treasury of Catholic Reading"
- Farrelly Jr, Peter, "Hope in the Handkerchief of a Saint"
- Rabenstein, Katherine, "For All The Saints"
- Karelse, Theun, "The Field Guide To Flying Saints"
- Saint-Omer, Edward, "Life, Virtues, Miracles of Saint Gerard Majella"PDF
- Heinegg, Peter (translator), "Saint Gerard Majella, His Writings and Spirituality" - ISBN 0-7648-0788-9
External links
- The Life of St. Gerard Majella: the miracle worker of the Catholic Church
- (Italian) Santuario San Gerardo Maiella - Materdomini
- (Italian) Premio Internazionale di poesia San Gerardo Maiella - Muro Lucano
- League of St Gerard
References
- ^ a b Patron Saints Index: St. Gerard Majella
- ^ a b J. Magnier (1913). "St. Gerard Majella". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06467c.htm.
- ^ St. Lucy's Church, Newark, NJ.
Categories:- 1726 births
- 1755 deaths
- Roman Catholic saints
- Italian saints
- Redemptorists
- 18th-century Christian saints
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