ST.  GERARD:

PATRON SAINT OF?

  

INTRODUCTION

Today - October 16 - is the feast day of St. Gerard Majella - a Redemptorist brother from way back in the time of Saint Alphonsus.

For a homily my thoughts and my title would be, “St. Gerard: Patron Saint of?

Let me give 5 possible patron saint “of-fers” for St. Gerard.

First of all:  he’s already known as the patron saint of mothers  - or those wanting babies.  This is a total surprise - a young celibate Religious Brother - named the Patron Saint of Mothers.  Yet,  in Italy especially - but also  in Redemptorist Parishes all around the world,  this title  became a push - because he was prayed to for a woman having trouble in child birth and she and the baby survived.

Second of all: he’s the patron saint of those who are bullied. Peers, fellow workers, a bishop, and several others really bullied him.  One bishop he went to work for had the reputation of hiring workers who only last 3 days. St. Gerard last three years.

Third: he’s the patron saint of being underestimated.  He was rejected by the Capuchins - and then rejected by the Redemptorists - after asking to join them after they preached a mission in his town. He ran after them. When he caught up with them he nagged a  Redemptorist priest to give him a try out as a brother and wow did he surprise everyone.

Fourth: he’s the patron saint of those falsely accused and he kept his mouth shut - till the girl who accused him of messing with this other girl  wrote a letter to St. Alphonsus saying she lied.

Fifth and last he’s the patron saint of those dying young. He died at 29.

CONCLUSION

Let me end this short sermon this way: if I was named a saint after my death, what would I be the Patron Saint of?