Page 99 - FLIPBOOK - Life of Saint Gerard Majella - Vassall-Phillips

CHAPTER 15
WITH FATHER MARGOTTA AGAIN

W
ith the spring the bitterly cold weather passed away at
Caposele, and plenty once more smiled upon the land.
Meanwhile Father Margotta at Naples was always asking to
have the holy Brother with him again, and, as it might be hoped that
the excitement caused by Gerard's miracles had by this time
somewhat subsided, St. Alphonsus did not hesitate to accede to his
request. Father Margotta, who was visiting the Convent of Caposele,
took Brother Gerard away with him. On their way to Naples business
took them to Calitri, Father Margotta's native place.
As our Saint was unknown here, for some few days he was left in
peace, and allowed to satisfy his thirst for prayer before the Blessed
Sacrament. But it was not long before a woman arrived at the house
of the Parish Priest, with whom the two Redemptorists were staying,
and asked for Brother Gerard. She was from Bisaccia, the little place
where, as it will be remembered, the Servant of God had displayed so
much charity and worked so many miracles during an epidemic. Her
object in her present visit was to obtain the cure of a relation who
was seriously ill. On being told that Gerard was out, she said that she
would await his return. When he came in, she threw herself at his
feet, and in a voice broken with sobs, begged of his charity the favour
on which her heart was set. Saint Gerard listened to her with his
usual kindness, consoled her in her trouble, and assured her that it
would be done unto her even as she wished.
Naturally enough the people of the house could not understand
this scene at all, and on the appearance of Father Margotta, the whole

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