Page 101 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

necessity, into prominence. One day he was speaking with a friend
outside the church of the Holy Spirit, when two ladies came up to
him.
“My dear Brother Gerard,” said one of them, with tears in her
eyes, “come, I beg of you, and cure my poor child.”
At first he refused, but unable to resist a mother's prayer, he said:
“Very well, but I must first go and get permission.”
When on his visit the child was cured, it was to Obedience that he
gave the glory.
If in Saint Gerard's gentle character there was any trace of severity
that was not reserved for himself, it was directed towards imposture
or pretence, which his soul detested. Near the Redemptorist
residence a beggar took his stand each day to ask for alms. To all
appearance his was a sad case. He hobbled along on crutches, and
one of his legs was wrapped round and round with bandages. Gerard,
however, knew that he was a good-for-nothing wretch, who, through
laziness, was imposing on the charity of the people. So he told him
several times to move away. But as all was useless, at last the Saint
tore the bandages off his limbs by main force, and said with great
severity:
“You are a swindler and a cheat. If you wish to save your soul,
cease mocking God and deceiving men.”
The cripple was a cripple no longer. He ran away as fast as he
could go, using both his legs, and leaving his crutches behind him.
After some six weeks spent at Naples, Father Margotta was
ordered by his Superiors to make a new foundation in the diocese of
Benevento. Thus he and Saint Gerard were again to be separated.
Gerard returned for a short time to Calitri, where a Mission was at
the time being preached — then back again to Caposele. At Calitri he
worked innumerable conversions. If the Fathers were kept busy
during the whole Mission in hearing the confessions of the people, he
was occupied in preparing sinners for the worthy reception of the
Holy Sacraments. This work we know was one especially dear to his
loving heart. The zeal for the House of the Lord had eaten him up —
zeal for that spiritual Temple which is formed by the Holy Ghost in
the souls of men.

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