Page 87 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

This letter produced its effect. The Novice was for ever delivered
from her temptations, and became an excellent Religious.
From these short extracts we may form some conception of the
general tone of Saint Gerard's letters to Nuns, a great number of
which have been preserved to us. They all breathe charity, sweetness,
loving-kindness, and are all pervaded with a heavenly unction. His
was the gentle spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
It was not only to Religious Women that Gerard wrote letters of
consolation and advice. Many Priests sought his aid, and he ever
regarded it as his greatest privilege to be able to help those whom
God had anointed to be the helpers of His people. Saint Gerard
wrote the following to a Priest who consulted him in his perplexities:
With regard to your scruples about your past life, since you have
already made, as I am well aware, on several occasions, a serious
examination of conscience, be at rest and trouble yourself no more
on this subject. Your doubts arise simply from the wiles of Satan.
The Devil is striving, by means of the storm that he has raised within
your soul, to make you lose peace of conscience. Be careful, then, not
to give ear to his suggestions, regard this inquietude as a real
temptation, and keep yourself calm that you may be able to go
forward in the way of Perfection.
As for the scruples which have reference to the Confessional, I
assure you, with all sincerity, that this is likewise a temptation. The
Enemy wishes to make you abandon this occupation, which concerns
so nearly the glory of God, and for which you have been chosen
from all eternity to the great good of your own soul. In the Name of
God, do not give way to any such temptation. If your Reverence
were to cease hearing Confessions, your spiritual life would suffer the
greatest loss, and in eternity God would not bestow upon you the
magnificent reward which He is preparing for you if you are faithful.
To abandon the Confessional would be the same thing for you as not
to do the Will of God, for the Will of God (I say it again) for you is
that you should labour with the greatest zeal in His Vineyard. Do not
permit yourself to be further troubled concerning any mistakes which
you may commit through inadvertence in the exercise of your
Ministry. It is enough that your will should be unswervingly bent on
not offending God. For all else, commit yourself to the good keeping
of Divine Providence.
Here is a letter written by Saint Gerard to a Redemptorist Father

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