Page 110 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

Whenever he met him, he used to chat with him, laughing at his jokes
and encouraging his witticisms.
One day, in Italian fashion, he embraced the poor man with
affectionate warmth. This was the turning point. The little mark of
friendship had won his heart. There was no longer any necessity to
seek him out. He haunted Gerard like his shadow. At last the Saint
saw that the hour had come for action.
Having brought his captive of love into the Community Oratory,
he knelt down before him, and then with tears in his eyes, made an
appeal to his better feelings and higher nature.
“My dear friend,” he said, “I cannot understand how you are able
to live at enmity with God and yet always be so cheerful. You cannot
deny that you are a married man, and that your wife is living in
Rome. How, then, is it that you venture to pretend to be unmarried?
How can you bring yourself thus to play a poor woman false?”
The Saint continued in this strain, until at last, utterly overcome,
the unhappy wretch knelt down in his turn, acknowledged everything,
and entreated Saint Gerard to pray for him, and tell him what he
should do to recover the friendship of God. Great was the charity
with which Gerard now dwelt on the Infinite Mercies of Our Lord,
and His welcome for the repentant sinner. He advised the secretary
to make his confession at once to Father Fiocchi, who happened to
be in the House. His confession over, he went to the church to
prepare for Holy Communion, when a new prodigy occurred —
Gerard went up to him, and asked him where he was going.
“To Holy Communion!” was the reply, given with some
eagerness.
“Wait,” said Gerard, “you forgot such and such a sin. Go to
confession again, and then you will have nothing on your conscience
when Our Lord comes to visit you.”
Utterly amazed, the secretary went back to confess the sin which
he had completely forgotten until thus miraculously reminded, and
then, his soul refreshed by a second Absolution, full of joy he
received the Bread of Life.
This conversion was both sincere and lasting. No one could help
observing the change that had come over the demeanour of the once
jovial secretary, until the Archbishop himself asked him the cause. In
the fervour of his repentance, Gerard's convert did not hesitate to
acknowledge all, and ended with the words of the Samaritan woman

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