Saint Gerard Majella - Trust in the Love and the Compassion of God
Gerard Majella was born in Muro Lucano, Italy, on April 6, 1726, into a family of humble circumstances. From his parents Gerard learned the love of prayer and sacrifice. When his father died, Gerard, being the only son, had to provide for his family by working as a tailor. At the age of fourteen he sought to enter the Capuchin friary but was rejected because of his poor health. After a short time as the domestic servant of the bishop of Lacedonia, he returned to tailoring but earned a minimal income.
In April 1749 after attending a Redemptorist mission in Muro, Gerard succeeded in getting himself accepted by the congregation. Following a trial period and a year of novitiate in the house at Deliceto, he professed religious vows on July 16, 1752.
Gerard was noted for his observance of the Redemptorist rule, and collecting money for the material needs of the community. His presence to people who were weighed down by poverty and illiteracy was a sign of hope to them. Gerard had great empathy and testified to trust in the love and the compassion of God.
During his five years as a lay brother in the Congregation, Gerard was remarkable for his apostolic zeal, patience in sickness, love for the poor, deep humility in the face of false accusation, heroic obedience, spirit of penance, and constancy in prayer. He wrote numerous letters of spiritual direction. The Lord favoured him with many spiritual gifts, including prophecy, the reading of peoples hearts, and the gift of miracles. He died at Materdomini on October 16, 1755. Gerard was beatified by Leo XIII on January 29, 1893, and canonised by Saint Pius X on December 11, 1904. He is invoked as patron of mothers, especially in time of pregnancy. Couples hoping to conceive a child also seek Saint Gerards intercession. The shrine of Saint Gerard Majella is at the basilica in Materdomini, Italy.
Powerful Prayer of Intercession
Almighty and Eternal God, we thank you for the gift of Saint Gerard and the example of his life. Because Saint Gerard always had complete faith and trust in you, you blessed him with great powers of help and healing. Through him, you showed your loving concern for all those who suffered or were in need. You never failed to hear his prayer on their behalf. Today, through Saint Gerards powerful intercession, you continue to show your love for all those who place their trust in you. And so, Father, full of faith and confidence, and in thanksgiving for all the wonderful things you have done for us, we place ourselves before you today. Through the intercession of Saint Gerard, hear our petitions, and if it is your holy will, grant them. Amen
Prayers to Saint Gerard Majella
For Motherhood
O good Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before God and Wonderworker of our day, I call upon thee and seek thy aid. Thou who on earth didst always fulfill Gods designs, help me to do the holy Will of God. Beseech the Master of Life, from Whom all parenthood proceeds, to render me fruitful in offspring, that I may raise up children to God in this life and heirs to the Kingdom of His Glory in the world to come. Amen
For Mother with Child
O Almighty and Everlasting God Who through the operation of the Holy Spirit, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of Thy divine Son; and, through the operation of the same Holy Spirit, didst sanctify Saint John the Baptist, while still in his mothers womb; hear the prayers of Thy humble servant who implores Thee, through the intercession of Saint Gerard, to protect her (me) amid the dangers of childbearing and to watch over the child with which you blessed me. May this child be cleansed by the saving water of baptism and, after a Christian life on earth, may we attain everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen
For a Sick Child
O Saint Gerard, who, like the Savior, loved children so tenderly and by your prayers freed many from disease and even from death; graciously look down upon the distressed parents who plead with thee for their childs health if such be the Will of God. Present their promise to God to bring up the child as a good Christian and to guard it by word and example against the fatal leprosy of sin. This favor we implore thee, O sainted Brother, through the tender love with which Jesus and Mary blessed thy own innocent childhood. Amen
In Time of Trial
O Saint Gerard, whose heart went out to the unfortunate; who relieved so many poor, healed so many sick, comforted so many afflicted; behold me worried and troubled as I kneel at thy feet. In vain I turn to men to seek consolation and help and found none; therefore, I recourse to thee thou who art so powerful in heaven. Graciously assist me, Saint Gerard, that being freed from this trial or strengthened to bear it for the love of God, I may praise and thank God and serve Him with greater love and fervor. Amen
For Special Blessings
Dear Saint Gerard we rejoice in thy happiness and glory; we bless the Lord Who endowed thee with the choicest gifts of His Grace; we congratulate thee for corresponding so faithfully with them. Obtain for us, we pray thee, some part of thy angelic purity, thy burning love for Jesus in the Tabernacle, thy tender devotion to Mary Immaculate. In thy brotherly love which made thee the support of the poor, the comforter of the afflicted and the apostle of the most forsaken souls, grant me the favors for which I now pray.
(Here mention them privately)
O most Powerful Patron, who hast always helped those who prayed to thee intercede for me before the Throne of God. O Good Saint, to thee I confide my fervent prayers; graciously accept them and, before the end of these days of prayer, let me experience in some way the effects of thy powerful intercession. Amen
To Obtain Patience
O powerful and everlasting God, Who didst endow Thy faithful Servant Saint Gerard with an invincible patience in the midst of contradictions and persecutions, slanders and infirmities, and didst thereby make him an image of Thy suffering and crucified Son; grant, we beseech Thee, that fixing our eyes on the crucifix, as he did, we may through patience, atone for our sins and prove our love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
For a Sick Person
O God, Who didst bestow on Saint Gerard the power of healing all kinds of infirmities, deign to glorify Thy Servant, who was so merciful toward human misery, by delivering me from my present sickness. Grant also that, being strengthened in body, I may take greater care to avoid sin and overcome my evil passions, the spiritual diseases that drag so many to everlasting death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
In Temporal Needs
O God, Who didst so often give to Saint Gerard power to supply the needs of the poor, grant us the grace which we implore of Thee (here mention your need), through the intercession of Thy most charitable Servant, that being helped in our present need, we may with our whole heart love and serve Thee, our only Treasure in time and eternity. Amen
"The Mothers' Saint"
Saint Gerard, passionate lover of Jesus crucified and his mother Mary, you spent your short life helping countless souls by your powerful prayers, especially mothers and families and so earning the title of "The Mothers Saint". Pray for me that I may obtain what I earnestly ask in the name of Jesus and grant me the grace to accept wholeheartedly Gods will in my life. Amen
For the Poor
Saint Gerard, during your life you extended your help to the unfortunate and poor around you. Help me in my present need. Give me insight to recognise the presence of Jesus in the sufferings and troubles of others. Let not my urgent need for help cause me to think only of myself. Following your example, uniting my prayers and sufferings with Jesus on the cross, may I be transformed into a person of love and compassion. Saint Gerard, pray for us. Amen.
"It is true that sometimes we find ourselves confused and weak. But there is no confusion with God, there is no weakness with Gods power, because it is certain that in our battles the Divine Majesty helps us with His Powerful Arm. And so we can be joyful and grow in strength [by accepting] Gods will. And we bless His most holy works for all eternity."
From a letter of Saint Gerard, January 22, 1752
Octber 16 (Redemptorist Feast) - Saint Gerard Majella, Relgious (1726-1755) - Trust in the Love and the Compassion of God
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