St. Gerard Majella

October 16

Gerard Majella, C.Ss.R. was an Italian lay brother of the Congregation of the Redeemer, better known as the Redemptorists, who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. At 27, Majella was controversially identified by a young pregnant woman as the father of her child. To avoid exposing Majella as the father, St. Gerard accepted the blame silently. His superior, St Alphonse Ligouri, questioned him and, due to his silence, banned him from receiving Holy Communion. After several years, the woman revealed the truth on her deathbed, but also testified to St Gerard’s holiness.

His last will was a small note on the door of his cell: "Here the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills." He died at 29 of tuberculosis on 16 October 1755 in Materdomini, Italy. His intercession is sought for children, unborn children, women in childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, the falsely-accused, good confessions, lay brothers and Muro Lucano, Italy. His feast is kept on October 16.