Living Catholicism: St. Gerard Majella, Patron of Expectant Mothers

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June 09, 2005

St. Gerard Majella, Patron of Expectant Mothers

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? - - Saint Gerard Majella

Continuing our posts on Catholic saints relevant to families, St. Gerard Majella is especially important as we begin our families. He is the patron of expectant mothers and has worked miracles for women in labor.

St. Gerard is relatively recent, since he was born in 1726 and grew up in poverty (his father died when he was 12). As a professed lay brother of the Redemptorists, he was known for piety and wisdom as well as a tendency to bi-locate and levitate.

His association with pregnant women reportedly began when one accused him of being the father of her child. He refused to fight the accusation, but the woman later admitted this was a lie. St. Gerard is a great example of holiness in addition to being a help to pregnant women.

A prayer to St. Gerard:

Dear Redemptorist Saint, model Priest and Religious,
Compassionate toward suffering mothers
Intercede for this expectant Mother,
Let her not be selfish
Like those who are willing to put an end to the life they bear within themselves.
Instead let her remain ever conscious
That she is priviledged to be the instrument
Through whom God brings another life into the world.
Encourage her for the good of her child
And the glory of the Lord of life.

Here’s a statue of St. Gerard in his traditional pose.

God bless,
Jay

Posted by jay at June 9, 2005 09:37 PM