GERARD MAJELLA, Saint. - Redemptorist, b. 23 April 1726 in Muro Lucano (Potenza) to an artisan family, d. at Materdomini on 16 October 1755. He was first a tailor in his town, then a servant of Bishop Albini at Lacedonia, on whose death (1744) he returned home: he sought to enter among the Capuchins and, having been rejected, attempted the eremitical life for some time.
After persistent entreaties, in 1749 he succeeded in being admitted to the Congregation founded by St. Alphonsus, becoming one of its most beautiful figures in the imitation of Jesus the Redeemer. Having completed his novitiate at Deliceto, he professed as a lay brother on 16 July 1752, making rapid progress under the guidance of the venerable Fr. Cafaro. An emulator of St. Peter of Alcantara in his mortifications, he made, like St. Teresa of Avila, of whom he was most devoted, the vow to choose whatever seemed to him most perfect. The charismatic gifts that had already made his life among the people admirable accompanied him in greater abundance in religion, astonishing that rationalist age.
Except for brief stays at Pagani, Ciorani and Naples, he lived at Materdomini (Avellino), filling the valley of the Sele and the villages of upper Irpinia, Lucania and the Apulian Tavoliere with prodigies, acclaimed everywhere as an energetic peacemaker, father of the poor and conqueror of sinful souls. Esteemed by the venerable Sister M. Celeste Crostarosa, he concerned himself with the monastic profession of pious young women, procuring dowries for them: slandered by one of these, who had left the convent, he did not excuse himself in the severe punishment inflicted on him. When the false accusation fell through by the confession of the dying slanderer, the angelic innocence of G. was recognized, and he was able to resume his apostolate. And although he had studied barely grammar, he wrote several letters of direction, especially to the Carmelites of Ripacandida, and a Regolamento di vita, from which a remarkable spirituality shines through.
This mystic and thaumaturge of southern Italy, beatified by Leo XIII in 1893 and canonized by Pius X in 1904, is invoked in almost the whole world as the patron of women in childbirth. The basilica of Materdomini, where he died, is even today a destination of pilgrimages, which sometimes take on a folkloric character. Feast day 16 October.
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Oreste Gregorio