Saint Gerard Majella

Life story

Gerard Majella was born on 6 April 1726 at Muro Lucano in Basilicata, Italy, the son of a tailor. His father died when he was young, the family fell into poverty, and he learned the tailor's trade and for a time worked as a servant in a bishop's household.

He wished to enter religious life but was turned down by the Capuchins because of his weak health. In 1749, when the Redemptorist fathers came to preach a mission in his region, he asked to join and was accepted as a lay brother. He did whatever the house needed: tailor, gardener, porter, sacristan and general helper. According to witnesses, local people held him in high regard for his devotion to the poor and the sick.

During these years a young woman named Neria Caggiano falsely accused him, and Alphonsus Liguori, his superior, looked into the matter. He kept silent without defending himself until the accuser withdrew her statement and the inquiry closed. He was trusted even more after the episode and was sometimes sent along with the fathers on preaching journeys.

In his last months he was sent to the house at Caposele. Because his life was so short, much of what is known about his character comes from the testimony of people who lived with him, gathered for his beatification process. Seriously ill with tuberculosis, he died on 16 October 1755 at Caposele, aged only twenty-nine. He was beatified in 1893 and canonised in 1904 under Pope Pius X.

Works and witness

• Trained as a tailor and served in a bishop's household
• Refused by the Capuchins for poor health; joined the Redemptorists as a lay brother in 1749
• Worked as tailor, gardener, porter and sacristan in the community
• Stayed silent under a false accusation until it was withdrawn
• Died on 16 October 1755; canonised in 1904

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Acta Apostolicae Sedis (canonisation decree of 1904)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.