Page 120 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

had been raging a few minutes before, had now entirely disappeared.
Seeing the Archpriest and his brother lost in amazement, Gerard said
simply:
“This astounds you. No doubt it looks like a miracle. In reality it is
only an effect of obedience.”
Either that same day or the next the good physician saw a similar
favour granted to his own sister. She, too, was in a high fever. Ill as
he was, the Saint managed to go and see her. He simply said:
“There is nothing the matter with you!” As he spoke she was
suddenly cured.
A few days previously a shopkeeper of Caposele had been taken
very ill. Before having recourse to any human remedies, his son sent
to Saint Gerard, begging that he would have the charity to
recommend his father to the Blessed Virgin. Gerard replied by a
letter. As soon as this letter came to the house the sick man was
restored to perfect health.
Seeing and hearing of such marvels as these, Don Angelo
Salvatore determined to endeavour to obtain from his holy guest a
still more remarkable and important cure. There was living at Oliveto
at the time a Priest named Dominic Sassi, who had fallen a prey to a
strange disease — the consequence of scruples — which had
impaired the use of his faculties. He remained almost all day shut up
in his room, where he indulged, without any cause, in terrific yells like
those of one distraught. Although his life had always been
irreproachable, he was a victim to the blackest despair. He only went
out at rare intervals. For seven years he had neither been able to say
Mass nor even to receive any Sacrament. His friends during all this
time had not been idle. They had taken the poor man to the most
celebrated places of pilgrimage. All, however, had so far been without
apparent result. God's hour had not yet come. Here, again, Brother
Gerard was to be the instrument of Our Lord's goodness. When the
Saint was first told of the sad state of this poor Priest his humility at
once took alarm.
“What can I do?” he asked a little coldly.
But soon, as usual, his compassionate chanty won the day. He
went quietly to visit Don Dominic. On beholding the stranger the
unfortunate madman began to send forth his ordinary shrieks.
Gerard was in no way disconcerted. He made the sign of the Cross
upon his head. At once the poor sufferer grew less violent. Then,

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