The Newest Saint in Our Reliquary

May 24, 2023

Did you know our parish has a reliquary? You might be wondering what is a reliquary? A reliquary is a container or shrine that contains relics of the Saints. Our reliquary is located in the old ambry (the place where the blessed sacramental oils are kept near the sacristy.

Our reliquary has first-class relics from St. Pope Pius X, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Paul of the Cross, St. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, St. Vincent Strambi, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Maria Goretti, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and now St. Gerard Majella the Patron of expectant mothers.

St. Gerard Majella was born in 1726 in Muro, Italy, and died in 1755. Gerard’s father passed away when Gerard was just 12 years old. The family was left in poverty and Gerard was apprenticed to his uncle as a tailor. He was a frail boy and often ill.

He applied to become a Capuchin Monk twice from age 21-23 but was declined. Finally, he was accepted into the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749 and became a lay brother.

Gerard Majella was close to the poor and served them in many ways. He had special gifts of levitation, bi-location, and the ability to read souls.

Shortly before he passed away of tuberculosis in 1755 at the age of 29, he dropped his handkerchief at the house of the Pirofalo family, whom he had been visiting. One of the Pirofalo daughters ran after him to return it, but he told her to keep it in case she ever needed it. Many years later, that daughter lay suffering in childbirth and about to die and asked for the handkerchief. Once she touched it, she delivered a healthy baby and regained her own health. He was canonized on December 11 of 1904 and his feast day is October 16th.