“II Santo dei Felici Parti” —
“The Saint of Happy Deliveries”

Before Gerard Majella was declared venerable, more than 200 years ago, Fr Antonio Tannoia, C.SS.R. wrote: “The blessed Brother manifests his power especially in cases of difficult confinements. At Foggia, and in all the places where he is best known, every woman who is with child has a picture of him, and invokes his name with devotion.”
In his lifetime, we find St Gerard coming to the assistance of a mother and child in a visit he paid to a certain home in Oliveto. He left his handkerchief on a chair. When he was leaving without it, a little girl saw it, picked it up and handed it to him. “No,” said Gerard, “you keep it. A day will come when you will find a special use for it.” At the time she did not understand what he meant. But she did keep the handkerchief and treasured it as the relic of a still living saint. Years afterward she married. In her first confinement she was in grave danger of death as was also her child. She prayed to various saints but experienced no relief. It was then that she thought of Br Gerard’s handkerchief. It was brought to her. As soon as she took it in her hand, her pains ceased. The baby was safely born.

These facts were testified to under oath in the Acts of the Apostolic Process and the witness concluded with these words: “My grandmother jealously guarded this relic. Eventually it came into my possession. Only a tiny shred of it remains in my possession at this time. So many others have been anxious to obtain even a small piece of it, that I have been obliged to cut it up into little bits for distribution.”

Hearing of these marvels and many other wondrous cures, Our Holy Father St Alphonsus himself, immediately after Gerard’s death, had his portraits and relics widely distributed. He encouraged the Redemptorists to do the same on all the Missions.

About 100 years after St Gerard’s death, his tomb was opened for the first time on 25 June, 1856. A mysterious oil of sweet fragrance was found to be flowing in abundance from his bones. On 11 October of that same year, 1856, St Gerard’s tomb was opened again, this time in the presence of the Ecclesiastical Authorities and two doctors. They immediately dried the relics and placed them in a case lined with white silk. Four hours later this chest was opened again. They found a fragrant white oil flowing from the holy relics and resting like dew on the silk lining. This phenomenon continued to occur at the Monastery of Caposele and other Redemptorist monasteries where larger portions of the Saint’s Relics were preserved.

Centuries have elapsed since his passing from earth into the glories of Heaven; and during that time the cases are innumerable in which St Gerard Majella has helped mothers and their children in imminent danger. He is, by a very special Providence of God, and pre-eminently, “The Mother’s Saint” to protect mothers and their little ones at the time of child-birth.

St Gerard is also the Patron Saint of all who are approaching the holy Tribunal of Penance; and especially of those who find it difficult to make a good confession.

Today, the Redemptorist Serving Brothers, of whom the saint was likewise declared patron by the Sovereign Pontiffs Leo XIII, Pius IX and St Pius X, undertake to provide his relic and to pray for all those who wish to have children. Relics, of material touched to the bones of the saint, are sewn into a ribbon belt with a blessed miniature of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour in order that they may be easily worn. They are sent to anybody who requests one.

It is an old tradition to include the name of Gerard or Majella in that of a child born under the protection of the saint. Thanksgivings for graces received may with profit be published in the monastery newspaper, Catholic, and thus encourage other young mothers experiencing difficulties.

Any person wishing to request a relic or prayers should address themselves to the monastery address on page 2.
(Relics are provided at no cost but please help us to cover the approximately £4 that it costs to make and mail the relics to each petitioner.)