St. Gerard Majella

Biography

St. Gerard Majella (1726–1755) was an Italian lay brother of the Redemptorist Congregation who, despite dying at just twenty-nine years of age, became one of the most widely invoked saints for expectant mothers and their unborn children. Born into poverty in Muro Lucano, southern Italy, he was a sickly child but showed remarkable piety from his earliest years. He tried to enter religious life several times but was rejected due to his poor health. Finally, the Redemptorists accepted him as a lay brother. He quickly became known for extraordinary mystical gifts including ecstasy, bilocation, reading of hearts, and numerous miracles of healing. The origin of his patronage of expectant mothers comes from a touching incident: visiting a family, he accidentally left his handkerchief behind. When a young woman ran after him to return it, Gerard told her: 'Keep it. You will need it someday.' Years later, the woman experienced a dangerous childbirth and, remembering Gerard's words, placed his handkerchief on her abdomen. She and the baby were saved. A young woman once falsely accused Gerard of immoral behavior. He bore the accusation in complete silence, following the example of Christ. When the truth was eventually revealed and he was asked why he had not defended himself, he replied: 'The Rule says not to complain about one's superiors.' He died of tuberculosis on October 16, 1755.

Patronages

Symbols