Page 130 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

go in, but stood shyly at the door, where Gerard could not possibly
see him.
The holy Brother knew, however, at once that a stranger was
there, and had him called inside. Astonished at hearing himself
summoned by name, the lad went in and glanced, at first with a
certain timidity, at one whom he had heard described as a Saint. Then
he grew bolder and cast his eyes round the room. They soon fell
upon a harp which chanced to be there. He had never seen anything
of the kind before, and was evidently puzzled at the meaning of the
object. Saint Gerard noticed his surprise with much amusement, and
asked him to play them something. Everyone laughed at this
proposition, but Gerard insisted. At last he induced the boy to place
his fingers on the instrument, when lo! sounds of the most ravishing
music were heard at once. Asked how he could thus play untaught,
the young countryman owned that whilst he touched the harp his
fingers seemed to obey some irresistible direction.
Surely we may well believe that it was an Angelic visitant who
enabled our Saint thus to receive a foretaste of the celestial
harmonies.
The harp which had given forth these heavenly strains to gladden
St. Gerard's gentle spirit, lingering yet on the shores of earth, was
carefully preserved in the family of the Santorellis, who had loved
him so well and so faithfully.
Two days later, on the Feast of his great Patroness St. Teresa,
Gerard was to give up his soul to God. That morning very early he
received a visit from his faithful medical attendant.
“My dear doctor,” he said, on seeing him, “mind you recommend
me today with all your heart to St. Teresa, and go to Holy
Communion for me.”
That he might keep a souvenir of this his last Communion before
his eyes even to the end, after he had again received the Holy
Viaticum, he asked for the Corporal on which the Blessed Sacrament
had just rested, and placed it on his heart, where it remained until all
was over. He then plainly stated that he would die before midnight.
“Today,” he said, “you are having a recreation day in honour of
St. Teresa. Tomorrow you will have another.”
To understand this prediction we must know that the Feast of St.
Teresa is one of the recreation days assigned to Redemptorist
Communities by their Rule, while St. Alphonsus wished that the day

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