Page 95 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

LIFE OF SAINT GERARD MAJELLA

his solicitude. We are told that he supported whole families of this
class. Funds never seemed to be wanting to him for any good work.
He hoped in God and was not disappointed.
There was a general failure of crops in the year 1754, with the
result that there was great want throughout the country. By the end
of December two hundred poor persons, men, women and children,
came daily for alms to the convent door. Their state was rendered all
the more pitiable from an exceptionally hard winter, which added to
this distress that was already sufficiently great. Under the
circumstances the Father Rector gave the porter full powers.
“I charge you,” he said, “to provide for the wants of these poor
people. Their fate is in our hands. If we do not help them, I do not
know what is to become of them. Take anything that is in the house,
and do with it as you think best.”
Thus given a free hand, Gerard threw himself with the utmost
devotedness into the work. It was a cold winter and they were
wellnigh naked. Relying on the general permission that he had
received, he went to the Community wardrobe, laid hands on
everything he could find, and had clothes made for his poor clients.
During all that inclement season, he kept nothing for himself but an
old worn habit. His cloak and everything he could possibly spare he
had long ago given away.
Indeed the cold that year was excessive, so that oftentimes he
would light a fire in the hall in order to warm the shivering creatures
who would gather round it, blessing God and Brother Gerard. The
sight of the little children whom their parents sometimes brought to
the convent, all benumbed with cold, touched him to the quick. Tears
of compassion coursed down his cheeks as he took their poor little
hands and chafed them in his own, remembering the love of Jesus for
innocent children.
Indeed the cold that year was excessive, so that oftentimes he
would light a fire in the hall in order to warm the shivering creatures
who would gather round it, blessing God and Brother Gerard. The
sight of the little children whom their parents sometimes brought to
the convent, all benumbed with cold, touched him to the quick. Tears
of compassion coursed down his cheeks as he took their poor little
hands and chafed them in his own, remembering the love of Jesus for
innocent children.
But it was not enough to clothe the naked; it was necessary also to

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