Page 78 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

O. R. VASSALL-PHILLIPS

have any dealings whatsoever with the outside world. The humble
Brother bowed his head in meek submission. He accepted all as his
due, and never spoke a syllable in self-justification.
On the affair becoming public property, as was soon enough the
case, several of the Fathers of the Community, who were well
acquainted with Gerard's virtue, begged him to clear himself.
“There is a God in Heaven,” was his answer; “He will provide.
Would you then deprive me of the opportunity of suffering
something for His sake? It is He Who wills that I should endure this
humiliation. Ought I not to accomplish His good pleasure? Let God
do that which is pleasing to Him. For my part, I desire nothing save
that which He desires.”
During this season of terrible trial, Saint Gerard redoubled his
austerities in order to obtain in more and more abundant measure the
help from God, of which he stood in such sore need. His most
fervent prayers were those offered for his calumniators. No word of
complaint was ever allowed to cross his lips. Not for one moment
did he lose his inward serenity of spirit. Forbidden to approach Holy
Communion, which had hitherto been the one great joy and support
of his life, he used to say gently to those who compassionated him:
“It is enough for me to have Jesus Christ in my heart. The Lord
wishes to punish the coldness of my love. He flies away from me, but
I possess Him within my soul by His grace. Never will I lose Him
there.”
On being urged to ask permission from St. Alphonsus to go once
more to Holy Communion, he hesitated for a moment, but only for a
moment.
“No,” he said, “I must needs die in the winepress of the Will of
my God.”
Another time he said to a Priest who begged him to serve his
Mass:
“Leave me alone and tempt me not. Did I serve your Mass, I
should snatch Him out of your hands, as you stand at the Altar.”
No other trial that could have been devised would have been
comparable to this trial — the loss of Holy Communion. It was as
though the sun had suddenly gone down in the heavens, ceasing to
shine upon his earthly life.
Still there were great consolations. God tempers the wind for the
shorn lamb. Kind friends who trusted him throughout with a true-

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