Gerard Majella was an Italian Redemptorist brother who lived obedience and charity in his short life, and is especially honored as patron of mothers and expectant mothers.
Life
Gerard Majella was born in 1726 into a poor tailor’s family in Muro Lucano in southern Italy. He lost his father early and learned the tailoring trade to help support his family. Because of his frail health he was turned away from religious life several times, but at last he entered the Redemptorists as a lay brother.
He gladly took on many tasks, as gardener, tailor and porter, and gave himself generously to helping the poor. When he was once falsely accused, he did not defend himself but endured in silence, and his innocence was later made clear. Many stories of wonders are told about his life.
He died of tuberculosis in 1755 at the age of 29 and was canonized by Pope Pius X in 1904.
Spirituality
Saint Gerard’s spirituality is total obedience to the will of God. He considered doing God’s will his greatest joy, and he accepted humble work and even false accusation as a way of sharing in the Lord’s cross. Love for the Eucharist and compassion for the poor were united in him.
Reflection
Even when misunderstood, Saint Gerard entrusted everything to God. When I feel wronged by someone, can I generously hand that feeling over to the Lord?