Page 43 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

“It was your Reverence's wish,” simply answered Gerard.
“What!” exclaimed Father Fiocchi, “my wish! I never wrote to
you, and I sent you no messenger.”
“Nevertheless,” was the reply, “nevertheless your Reverence was
pleased to give me a formal obedience to come to you. The Bishop
wishes to speak with me. Alas! who am I that anyone should wish to
speak with me! I am only a worm of the earth, a sinner, a poor wretch
who have the greatest need of all the mercy of God.”
Under normal circumstances a Redemptorist Lay brother hardly
ever sleeps outside his convent walls, excepting in those countries
where a Brother accompanies the Fathers to do the domestic work of
the house in which they may be lodging during the time of Mission.
Saint Gerard, however, was to be an exception to the ordinary rule.
God had called him to the heights of contemplation, and infused
into his soul the most sublime lights on the deepest mysteries of our
holy religion. He was endowed with the spirit of prophecy. The
future was often unrolled as an open scroll before his eyes. Nothing,
however seemingly impossible, was refused his prayer. He worked
miracles of healing almost as easily — with as little effect — as others
discharge the ordinary functions of life. All these gratuitous gifts of
God were not designed to be hidden in a napkin. They had been
bestowed upon him more for the sake of others than for his own. He
was to be as a beacon-light, proclaiming to the tempest-tossed
mariner, cast on the billows of life's angry ocean, the closeness of
God, in the midst of the storm — the nearness of the unseen haven
of everlasting rest.
Thus Divine Providence arranged that for the remainder of his life
Saint Gerard should be much in the busy haunts of men. The house
at Iliceto was in such poverty that it became absolutely necessary,
unless either the Foundation was to be abandoned altogether, or the
community be exposed to the danger of dying of starvation, that an
appeal should be made for outside help.
In this emergency, Gerard was sent out by his Superiors to
“quest,” that is, to solicit alms for the support of his Convent.
Everywhere he was received by the people with open arms. All had
the warmest of welcomes for him wherever he went. It was felt that
when Gerard visited a house, there came by his side a blessing to
abide where he had rested, as a gracious Presence — even after his
bodily departure — the blessing of the peace of God which he

33