Page 127 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

inspired saying of the Wise Man must surely have been in the mind
of everyone who saw him:
“The obedient man shall speak of victories.”
This is a Divine Promise, and perhaps never before had the words
been verified more wondrously than in this recovery of Saint Gerard
from the very brink of the grave. But the Saint well knew that it was
only for a few short weeks that the time of his pilgrimage was to be
prolonged. When one of the Brothers expressed to him the joy of all
at seeing his health apparently re-established, he replied at once that
God had so disposed it for His Own greater Glory, and in order to
show the value of Obedience in His sight, but that in a short while he
would be in Eternity. All through the month of September he was
getting weaker and weaker. When October came, he was like a ghost
in appearance, and evidently could not hold out much longer. On the
fourth day of the month he met his friend the doctor, and told him
that he had fulfilled the Obedience which had been given him; but
that he knew that his end was approaching fast, and that his case was
hopeless. The next morning he was forced once more to take to the
bed from which he was never more to rise.
Meanwhile, during his short period of convalescence, he had been
supernaturally acquainted with the happy death of Sister Mary
Celestine Costarosa. It was to this Nun that the first vision
concerning the foundation of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer had been vouchsafed by God. Her friendship with Saint
Gerard was of old standing, and now her entry into the heavenly
country was made known to him from on high. It was the 14th of
September, and one of the Lay-brothers, Stephen Sperduto by name,
noticing that there was something unwonted about his look that day,
asked him the reason.
“Know, my dear brother,” answered Gerard, “that this very day at
Foggia, the beautiful soul of Sister Mary Celestine has winged its
flight to Paradise. She has gone to receive the reward due to her great
love for Jesus and Mary.”
Soon afterwards the news arrived that the holy Sister, whose name
must ever be linked with that of St. Alphonsus in the Annals of the
Congregation, had in truth departed this life at the very time
indicated by Saint Gerard.
Another revelation of a similar nature followed shortly afterwards.
A painter living at Oliveto, a relation of Don Salvatore, had to go to

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