Page 122 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

in peace, but as he was closing the door Saint Gerard turned round
and spoke to him:
“Don Philip, I know what you have come about. Have no
scruples about such and such matters that are disturbing your
conscience. Leave yourself in the Hands of God's Providence.”
These words corresponded exactly to the needs of Don Philip's
soul.
Oliveto heard more than one prophecy at this time fall from the
lips of the Saint. Thus as he was going away from a certain house he
happened to leave his handkerchief on a chair. A young girl noticed it
and handed it to him.
“No,” said Saint Gerard, “do you keep it yourself. Perhaps one
day it will be of use to you.”
As a matter of fact, when, in years to come, this girl, now married,
was in her first confinement, she was at the point of death. She then
invoked her Holy Patrons, but experienced no relief, until in her
extremity she thought of Brother Gerard's handkerchief. As soon as
this was brought to her the baby was safely born and all went well.
The witness who has recorded this fact concludes his statement with
the following words:
“My grandmother jealously guarded this Relic. Eventually it came
into my possession, but there now only remains in my hands a tiny
shred, for I have been obliged, in order to satisfy the devotion of the
Faithful, to cut it up into little bits for distribution.”
After eight days had been thus spent, full of marvels, at Oliveto,
Saint Gerard thought it right to go back to Caposele. He grew daily
worse rather than better, and it was quite evident that it would be
impossible for him to continue the quest for which he had been sent
out of his convent. Under these circumstances, the Archpriest and
his brothers could not interpose any obstacles in the way of his
return, and all was arranged for his departure. Before leaving Oliveto,
never to see it again in this world, the Saint went to say farewell to
the family of Don Angelo Pirofalo, whom he held in high esteem.
His last words to these friends were in themselves miraculous, and
spoke of his approaching death.
“Look sometimes,” he said to them, “towards the convent at
Caposele. As long as you see a white cloth floating from a window
there, so long you will know that I am still alive. When it disappears,
you will know that I am dead.”

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