Page 115 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

those in the church, and a number of people hastened to see him in
this miraculous state. Henceforward the whole parish venerated him
as a Saint. This veneration greatly increased after his death.
Evidence was given, in the cause of his canonization, that all the
inhabitants of Senerchia had chosen Saint Gerard as their special
Patron, and that it was the custom of everyone in the place to add a
Pater, Ave, and Gloria to their ordinary morning prayers in order to
thank the Most Holy Trinity for all the wonderful gifts and graces
bestowed on this great Servant of God.
From Senerchia Gerard wrote to the Archpriest of Oliveto, Don
Angelo Salvatore by name, to give him due notice of his intended
visit.
“Your Reverence has long wished to make the acquaintance of the
sinner who is writing to you, and now your wishes will be gratified.”
Thus did he finish his letter.
These words greatly astonished the Priest. He had indeed long
desired to know one about whom he had heard so much, but this he
had never told to any living being.
The Saint's stay at Oliveto was rendered note worthy by many
marvels; of these we can only mention one. On the very day of his
arrival, as it was dinner-time and Gerard had not yet come down, his
host went to look for him. To his amazement he found his guest in
his room, rapt in ecstasy and raised from the ground. He went away,
and returning after some time found the holy Brother still in the
same supernatural condition. At last Gerard appeared at dinner. He
did not know that he had been seen in ecstasy, and remarked politely
that he trusted that his visit might give no trouble to anyone, but that
everything would go on just as usual, exactly as if he were not staying
in the house at all. Don Salvatore afterwards marked on the wall of
the room the exact height to which he had seen the Servant of God
raised in the air.
From Oliveto Gerard resumed his journey. At a place called Vietri
a woman of abandoned life came up to him and asked him, as a sort
of joke, to give her a picture of the Blessed Virgin.
“Here is one,” was the reply, “but do you look to the affairs of
your soul, and recommend yourself seriously to Our Lady, for you
have but a few days to live.”
His words came true. This woman, young and well when he
spoke, was attacked with sudden illness on her return home. Mindful

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