Page 62 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

hearts were touched indeed, but not conquered until the Servant of
God struck another chord. Would they not make this sacrifice for the
sake of the son they loved so well? Let them offer it up in suffrage
for the relief of his poor soul. God, he promised them — it had been
revealed to him from above — would most surely accept such an
offering. Let them freely forgive the murderer, and then have five
Masses offered for their dear child — this would suffice in
satisfaction for the debt he still owed the Justice of God for his past
sins. By closing their hearts to the claims of mercy and Christian
forgiveness, they— his parents — were at the same time taking out
of their own hands the power to help the poor boy who — Gerard
knew it — was even then in Purgatory.
This was enough. Now at length the victory was won. The father
and mother could resist no longer. They generously performed
everything that was asked of them. A reconciliation was happily
effected between the family of the murdered man and that of the
murderer, complete forgiveness extended by the injured ones to him
who had so cruelly wronged them, and both families ever afterwards
united together in the bonds of Christian friendship, to the
edification of the whole locality. We may add that this great miracle
of grace — for such it might rightly be called — was, in God's
Providence, worked by the Holy Spirit to the glory of Saint Gerard at
Castelgrande, the very place where in youth he had permitted himself,
out of love for the despised Jesus, to be mocked by the boys as a fool
in the public streets.
To return to Gerard's flying visit to Muro. Our Lord had made
use of His servant's visit to that city to secure the salvation of another
soul that was in the most imminent danger of perishing everlastingly.
There lived in Muro at the time a woman called Catherine Zaccardi,
the wife of a jeweller of the place. She had been for several years at
enmity with God. Gerard had more than once stayed in her house on
previous occasions, but had never until now spoken to her on the sad
state of her soul. Indeed, her sins were known only to herself and to
the great Searcher of hearts. During this visit, however, the Saint had
a special revelation concerning her secret sins and approaching death.
He did not hesitate a moment. Taking his hostess aside, he entreated
her with all earnestness to make a good Confession without delay,
and thus prepare to meet her Sovereign Judge, for her days on earth
were numbered. He bade her remember that, unless she laid bare to

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