Gerard Majella facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Gerard Majella CSsR
Portrait of Gerard Majella.
Religious
Born	(1726-04-06)6 April 1726 Muro Lucano, Basilicata, Kingdom of Naples
Died	16 October 1755(1755-10-16) (aged 29) Materdomini, Campania, Kingdom of Naples
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (The Redemptorists and Campagnia, Italy)
Beatified	29 January 1893 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized	11 December 1904 by Pope Pius X
Major shrine	Shrine of St. Gerard Majella, Materdomini, Avellino, Italy
Feast	16 October
Attributes	Young man in a Redemptorist habit, skull
Patronage	Children (and unborn children in particular); childbirth; mothers (and expectant mothers in particular); motherhood; falsely accused people; good confessions; lay brothers.

Gerard Majella (born Gerardo Maiella; April 6, 1726 – October 16, 1755) was an Italian lay brother who belonged to a religious group called the Redemptorists. He is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church.

People often ask for his help for children, especially unborn babies, and for mothers, especially those who are expecting. He is also known as a patron for people who have been wrongly accused of something.

The Life of Saint Gerard

Gerard Majella was born in Muro Lucano, Italy, on April 6, 1726. He was the youngest of five children. Because he was very weak when he was born, his parents had him baptized on the same day.

Early Life and Work

Gerard's father, Domenico Maiella, was a tailor, someone who makes and mends clothes. When Gerard was only twelve, his father passed away, leaving his family in a difficult financial situation.

His mother, Benedetta Galella, sent him to live with her brother. There, Gerard began to learn the tailoring trade, hoping to follow in his father's footsteps. However, the person teaching him was not kind. Gerard didn't complain, but his uncle soon found out and the abusive foreman left his job.

After four years of learning the trade, Gerard took a job as a servant. He worked for the local Bishop of Lacedonia. When the bishop died, Gerard returned to his tailoring work. He worked for others and then on his own, but he didn't earn much money.

Joining the Redemptorists

Gerard tried twice to join a religious group called the Capuchin Order. However, his health was not strong enough, and he was not accepted.

In 1749, he finally joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists. This group was started in 1732 by Alphonsus Liguori. The Redemptorists are missionaries who focus on "preaching the word of God to the poor." They often give special talks and retreats.

Gerard's Daily Life

During his time with the Redemptorists, Gerard was very close to ordinary people. He worked in many different roles within his community. He was a gardener, a sacristan (who takes care of the church), a tailor, a porter, a cook, and a carpenter. He also helped manage new building projects.

A False Accusation

When Gerard was 27, he was wrongly accused of something he didn't do. He chose to remain silent to protect someone else, even though it meant he was blamed. His superior, Alphonse Liguori, questioned him and, because Gerard stayed quiet, he was not allowed to receive Holy Communion.

Years later, the person who had made the false accusation admitted the truth. She also spoke about how holy Gerard was. This event is one reason why he is known as a patron for those who are falsely accused.

Reported Miracles

Many amazing stories are told about Gerard. Some say he brought a boy back to life who had fallen from a high cliff. Another time, he blessed a small amount of wheat belonging to a poor family, and it lasted until the next harvest. He also multiplied bread to feed the hungry on several occasions.

One story tells of him walking on water to guide a boat of fishermen safely through a storm. People also believed he could be in two places at once (called bilocation) and that he could understand people's thoughts and feelings.

His Final Days

Gerard's last message was a small note on his cell door. It said: "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills." He died at the young age of 29 from tuberculosis on October 16, 1755, in Materdomini, Italy.

Patron of Mothers

One special story explains why Saint Gerard became known as the patron saint of mothers. A few months before he died, he visited the Pirofalo family. He accidentally left his handkerchief behind.

The Handkerchief Miracle

One of the Pirofalo girls saw the handkerchief after Gerard had left. She ran after him to give it back. But Gerard told her to keep it, saying she might need it someday.

Years later, this girl was a married woman and was very sick during childbirth. She was close to dying. She remembered Gerard's words and asked for the handkerchief. As soon as she had it, her pain went away, and she gave birth to a healthy baby. This was a big deal at a time when many mothers and babies did not survive childbirth. News of this miracle spread quickly.

A Special Connection

Because of the miracles that happened through Gerard's prayers for mothers, mothers in Italy felt a special connection to him. They made him their patron saint. During the process to declare him a saint, one person said he was known as "il santo dei felice parti," which means "the saint of happy childbirths."

His devotion has also become very popular in North America, including the United States and Canada.

Honoring Saint Gerard

A relic of Majella on display for veneration in Lima, Ohio.

Gerard Majella was officially recognized as "blessed" (called beatified) in Rome on January 29, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII. He was then declared a saint (called canonized) less than twelve years later, on December 11, 1904, by Pope Pius X. His special day, or feast day, is October 16.

Shrines and Celebrations

In 1977, St. Gerard's Chapel in St. Lucy's Church in Newark, New Jersey, was named a national shrine. Every year around October 16, there are celebrations with lights, music, food, and a street procession. People travel from many places to join in. Many also visit the shrine throughout the year to ask for Saint Gerard's help.

The St. Gerard Majella Annual Novena is a nine-day prayer event that happens every year at St. Josephs Church in Dundalk, Ireland. This is one of the biggest faith festivals in Ireland. St. Joseph's also supports the St. Gerard's Family League, a group of Christians who pray for families and work to keep Christian values strong in homes.

The Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella is a large church in Materdomini, Italy, built to honor him.

Places Named After Saint Gerard

Statue of Gerard Majella at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Trinity, Indiana

Many places around the world are named after Saint Gerard Majella.

Buildings and Towns

In Liverpool, England, the Senior Coroner (a public official who investigates deaths) for Liverpool and Wirral works at the Gerard Majella Courthouse.

In Bellshill, Scotland, there is a church and a primary school named after St. Gerard Majella. They opened in the early 1970s. A maternity hospital used to be nearby, which is why the church and school were given his name.

Two towns in Quebec, Canada, are named in his honor: one in the Montérégie region and another in the Lanaudière region. Also, one of the churches in St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu is named after him.

In Ghent, Belgium, a special school was named after Saint Gerard. This school was shown at the International Exposition (1913) as a model for future school buildings in Belgium. Today, the Saint Gerard School is used by a charity called "Geraarke" (a local name for Gerard) that helps people in need with clothes and food.

In Anambra State, Nigeria, there is a shrine dedicated to St. Gerard Majella in a place called Oba. The Redemptorists also built a school for poor children at this shrine site, named after St. Gerard Majella.

In May 2005, Saint Gerard Majella was even featured on an Italian 45-eurocent postage stamp.