St. Gerard Majella

Gerard Majella was born on April 6, 1726 in Muro, a little village in southern Italy. His father, a tailor by trade, died when he was just a boy, so his mother sent him to live as an apprentice in order to learn the trade that his father had left behind. Though his master loved him dearly, the foreman in charge of his training mistreated him often.

Because of the suffering he endured at the hands of the foreman, Gerard always felt close to Christ, Himself cruelly mistreated by the hands who should have loved Him most. Because of this identification with Jesus on the cross, along with a deeply instilled reverence for the Church and an even deeper personal holiness of life, Gerard eventually chose to pursue religious life instead.

He first attempted to join the Franciscans. When they turned him down (mainly for health reasons) he tried to become a hermit. This attempt failed as well. Undeterred, he was accepted by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749 (an order founded by St. Alphonsus Ligouri). While he was never ordained to the priesthood, Gerard lived a life of complete service and obedience as a brother in the Redemptorist order. His life was filled with miracles, including bilocation, reading hearts, spiritual ecstasy and visions, healings, exorcisms, and more. He lived and worked in this way until his death on October 16, 1755. He was canonized as a Saint by Pope Pius X on December 11, 1904.

Who except God can give you peace?
Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?

-Saint Gerard Majella

While this title is unofficial (meaning that no Church official has ever declared him to be such), there are many devotions to St. Gerard as the Patron of Expectant Mothers. Even before his canonization, the Italians referred to him as il Santo de felice parti, "the Saint of happy childbirth."

St. Gerard is often called upon as the Parton of Expectant Mothers because of a miraculous healing that is attributed to him.

A few months before his death, Gerard went to visit the house of a family. As he was leaving, he dropped his handkerchief. One of the daughters picked it up and tried to return it to him. He replied, "Keep it. You may need it some day." Years later, when this same girl became pregnant, she exprienced great complications and feared that she would miscarry the child. Remembering this event with St. Gerard, she asked for the handkerchief. As soon as it was brought to her, the pain disappeared and she eventually gave birth to a healthy child.

A Prayer to St. Gerard

Almighty and Eternal God, we thank you for the gift of St. Gerard and the example of his life. Because St. Gerard always had complete faith and trust in you, you blessed him with miracles 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 St. Gerard's powerful intercession, you continue to show your love for all those who place their trust in you.

Insert any personal prayer intentions here.

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 St. Gerard, hear our prayers and petitions , and if it is your holy will, grant them.

Amen.