Page 135 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

forced thus to act by an interior impulse that had overcome him
when his hand was on the bell-rope. People came flocking in from all
sides, as the news of Brother Gerard's departure from this world
spread through the country round.
Early in the morning his body had been carried to the church, and
it was at once surrounded by an eager throng of persons drawn from
all classes of society. In their anxiety to obtain some memorial of the
Saint, they began to cut off pieces of his habit, and even of his hair,
until it became necessary to set guards to restrain the enthusiasm of
the faithful. During the two days that Saint Gerard's remains were in
the church, the pious visitors were reckoned not by hundreds but by
thousands. There was a constant flow to and from the catafalque of
those who had come — many of them from great distances — to do
honour to the humble Lay-brother whom God had been pleased to
raise to such a pinnacle of sanctity.
The funeral took place on October 17. Before finally consigning
the body to the tomb, the Superior of the house again opened a vein,
and again there gushed forth the red blood that spoke of life rather
than of death. Gerard was indeed living still, living and reigning
before the Throne of God in Heaven, and men should thus be
reminded by stupendous miracles that even the earthly casket of his
pure spirit was one day, through the transforming power of the Life-
giving Flesh of Jesus Christ, to share in the fulness of the bliss
unspeakable that had already been given to his soul, and should be
his for endless ages.
On the very day of the interment, the Superior, foreseeing that
Gerard would one day be venerated upon our altars, caused a public
notary to draw up a formal document embodying the wonders that
had taken place between his death and funeral. Besides the Fathers
and ten Lay-brothers of the Community, ten of the inhabitants of
Caposele were called to give evidence. All gave their testimony on
oath, and the notary made a report, which is to be found in the
Process of his Beatification.
Gerard had hardly passed away before it pleased Almighty God to
give signs of his power in Heaven.
Father Petrella, to whom it will be remembered that the Saint had
appeared shortly after his death, was one day asked to pray in an
especial manner for a great sinner living at Caposele. He answered:
“I will give Brother Gerard an Obedience to go and find him out

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