Page 140 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

the laws of nature.
“It is needless,” writes an eyewitness, “to state how much joy this
event has caused us. It is without doubt a presage of the favours
which the holy Brother will bestow upon those that honour him.”
In the course of one of his characteristic and most beautiful
addresses, Pope Pius IX once paid the following testimony to Saint
Gerard's sanctity:
“Even as St. Alphonsus, by his sanctity, zeal, and learning, was a
wonderful example for his children, so Gerard by his simplicity of
heart and marvellous obedience was a perfect model for those of his
own condition — the Lay-brothers. The austerity of his life made
him a victim agreeable to God. He sought the Lord with all his heart,
and made his dwelling-place in God, even as God dwelt in him.”
Thus spoke the Pontiff, signalizing Gerard's virtues rather than his
miracles. With these words of the Vicar of Christ, we may well draw
our little work to a conclusion.
Gross indeed would be his error who, in considering Saint
Gerard's life, should dwell only on the marvels by which it is
illumined, without pausing to admire the interior perfection of soul,
to which those marvels gave some external testimony. Simplicity of
heart, obedience, self-denial, union of the affections and the will with
God — these are virtues that we are all called upon to practise in our
measure and degree.
It is, however, to those of his own state of life, to men called to
that holy Vocation, which Gerard treasured as the very apple of his
eye, that he will ever be, in a most special way, a patron and a model.
To all Lay-brothers he is a bright example, but particularly to those of
his own beloved Congregation. As they go about their daily duties,
they may remember that what they do now, he did once. There is no
office of a Redemptorist Lay-brother that was not discharged by
Saint Gerard Majella. He was at different times, tailor, gardener,
cook, refectorian, sacristan, infirmarian, carpenter. He had learned at
Naples to make crucifixes, and afterwards employed himself at this
work in his leisure moments at Caposele. He was clerk of the works
during the progress of the convent buildings. He went on Mission
with the Fathers to attend to their wants. All these duties he
performed with equal care, knowing that all were the Will of God for
him.
Divine Providence has then given him to us as a great Saint, who

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