Page 29 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

Sacrament.
It was at this period that it pleased God to reward the fidelity of
His servant by another great miracle. One day, his master having
gone out for a walk, Gerard locked the door of his apartments,
carried off the key, and proceeded to fetch some water from the well
in the public square. While leaning over the kerb, by some mishap the
precious key slipped from his grasp and fell into the well below.
“What will my master say?” cried he in uttermost consternation.
“What a state he will be in!”
One first moment of dismay! Then, from the very bottom of his
heart he asked the help of God. Suddenly there came an inspiration.
Running quickly to the Cathedral sacristy, he flew back with a little
statue of the Infant Jesus in his hands. The bystanders, who were
witnesses of the scene, waited, all expectation, to see what might
come next. Amidst a general silence Gerard addressed Our Lord with
much simplicity, begging Him to restore the lost key.
Soon he was seen to tie the statue to a string. Down it went lower
and lower into the well. For an instant all was suspense. Then behold
once more the statue reappeared, bearing the key in triumph to its
happy owner! No wonder that such a miracle as this was talked of for
many a mile all the country round. Even to this day they will point
out to you the well, which, in memory of the marvel, was henceforth
to be known to all as Pozzo Gerardiello, or Gerard's well.
Our Saint had been now three years in the service of this hard
taskmaster, when suddenly the tyrant died. Far from experiencing any
feeling of relief, he mourned his loss as that of the best of friends and
benefactors. So eager was he always to suffer for the love of Christ.
Saint Gerard now determined to return home and practise his
trade of tailor. He was kept busily occupied during the day. A great
part of the night he spent in the Cathedral in presence of the Blessed
Sacrament. Indeed, his was already a life of the most heroic sanctity.
Knowing well that almsdeeds and fasting are the wings that waft our
prayers to Heaven and make them acceptable in the sight of God, he
divided all the money he received into three equal portions. One part
he gave to his mother for the support of the house, another he
devoted to the poor, and the remaining third was a loving alms for
Masses, wherewith to comfort the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
He also redoubled his corporal penances, taking the discipline
with great severity, and in general treating his body with the utmost

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