Page 131 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

after a death should also be always observed as a day of recreation in
the house where it occurred. The Holy Founder tells us that though
we must naturally grieve for the loss of the Brothers whom we have
loved during the years of our Religious Life, still we should rejoice
supernaturally at the thought that they have fought the good fight,
and that, their labours past, they have now gained “the beautiful
crown,” which, to quote his own words, he assures us that “Jesus has
prepared for those who live in observance and die in the
Congregation.”
Saint Gerard, then, knew well that the next day the Community
would be rejoicing in the Lord at his happy passage to Him, “Whom,
not having seen, he had ever loved, in Whom always, though he had
seen Him not, he had believed, that he might rejoice with joy
unspeakable and glorified, receiving the end of his faith even the
21
salvation of his soul.”
“Help me to put on my Habit, Brother,” he said to the Infirmarian
who was attending him, “for I shall die tonight. I wish to say the
Office of the Dead for my own soul.” As the solemn hour drew near
when he was to appear before the dread Tribunal of Eternal Justice,
his humility was more and more clearly marked. He was ever
repeating the most heart-felt Acts of Contrition, in accents of
tenderest love that brought tears to the eyes of all who heard him.
Shortly before the end, he raised himself up and repeated the Miserere,
after each verse repeating the touching words of the royal penitent:
“Tibi soli peccavi et malum coram Te feci; a peccato meo munda me”(Against
Thee only have I sinned, and done evil before Thee. Do Thou
cleanse me from my sin).
Thus do the Saints prepare for the first sight of Jesus Christ their
Sovereign Judge.
The exact moment of his departure had been revealed to him. In
the evening he asked the time. On being told that it was six o'clock,
he said that he had just six hours more to live. At this moment the
doctor came into the room. Notwithstanding his patient's great
weakness, Santorelli did not think the end so near, and even fancied
that he seemed a little better than he had been in the morning. As he
was leaving, Gerard, contrary to his usual custom, asked him to
remain; but as he said that he had other sick people to visit the Saint

21 1 St. Pet. i. 8, 9.

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