Page 60 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

on the personal perplexities of individual consciences, and also on
abstruse questions of dogmatic theology. Advice, wise, clear, and
always most practical, he refused to none who sought his aid. On the
most sublime mysteries of our holy religion he spoke as one inspired,
for he was in truth a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. He had
also received that which is known as the gift of “infused knowledge”
in abundant measure.
Those who listened to the burning words of this poor Brother,
uneducated in secular learning, but so deeply versed in the wisdom
that comes from Heaven, could only praise God Who had hidden
His Divine secrets from the wise and prudent to make them known
to the pure and simple of heart. That Gerard was a great Saint could
be doubted by none who were conversant with his unearthly ways
and heavenly endowments. He appeared to live in an atmosphere of
marvel. The very air he breathed seemed redolent of the supernatural.
Strong men would tremble, awe-stricken at the nearness of the all-
knowing Spirit of God, as Gerard read the inmost recesses of their
hearts. Ofttimes it was known by the result that the future had been
even as the present to his illumined gaze. To work miracles through
love for his fellow-creatures, out of heartfelt compassion for them in
their various trials and afflictions, was as his daily bread.
Yet it was not this rich accumulation of Divine gifts that struck
the imagination of men or appealed to their highest and noblest
feelings so forcibly, as the spectacle of the Christ-like virtues in
recompense for which those gifts were given. An emissary of Satan
can disguise himself as an Angel of Light, and may even counterfeit
the miracles of the Saints; but humility, sweetness, voluntary poverty,
charity, peace — these are unmistakable in their origin, and these,
exercised in an heroic degree, were conspicuously the graces that
adorned the beautiful soul of Gerard. Dear to God and dear to man,
none could resist his gentle sway, and great were the conversions that
he worked for Jesus Christ his Master.
Corato, his native city of Muro, Castelgrande, Melfi, are the names
of the places where his stay would seem to have been productive of
the most permanent results. These little towns, according to
trustworthy testimony, were altogether changed by his presence in
their midst.
God was pleased to show by a manifest sign on his first entrance
to Corato that He was with His servant Gerard. It had been arranged

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