The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-22
Iondon Tablet }


June, Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in the Throne Room of the Vatican Palace,
was read the Decree, by which the Holy
Father declared heroic the virtues practised
by the Venerable servant of God, Gerard
Majella, professed lay brother of the Con-
was born in the Episcopal city of Muro
Luciano, in the Kingdom Of Naples, on the
9th of April, l726, and died in the Monas-
terry of Csposele, the 18th of October, 1855
Our Holy Father, Plus TX, signed with
his own hand the commission for the intro
duction of the cause of Qualification and
canonisation of the Ven. Gerard, on the
18th of August, 1850, was passed the De-
cree, Ode non cultu," proving that the
public veneratiOn given to the blessed,
| after their Justification, had not been given
to the venerable setvant of God. The d.
cree regarding his reputation of sanctty
was pu 6lisbed on the 18th of January, 1852.
That approving whatever writings he left,
on the Och of January, 1868. Then fol-
lowed the examination of his virtues, and
the three congregations mentioned in the
Decree of the 9Th of June. The proposer
of the cause was his Eminence Cardinal
Luigi Bilio, Bishop of Sabina, and Project
| of the Sacred Congregation of Rites; the
Very Rev. F. Brixius Queloz, Procuratcr
| General of the Congregation of the Most
Holy Redeemer, was the Postnlator.
AS soon as the Holy Father was seated
| on the Throne, their Eminences Cardinal
Bilio, Proposer of the Cause Cardinal De-
champs, of the Congregation of the Most
Holy Redeemer, Archbishop of Malnes and
Primate of Belgium, with the Cardinals
| retti, and de Falleux, took their places on
the right of his Holiness, whilst about
twenty Bishops, the prelates of the court,
and the officials of the Sacred CoDgreg CATION
of Rites were on the left. The most Rev.
F. Nicholas Menrcn, Superior General CT
1 A. ~f U,lry
deemer, with several Fathers of the same
Order, was likewise present and knelt in
| front of the Throne, daring the reading of
the Decree. AT sign given by his Holt
ness, Monsignor Rali, Secretary of the.
Sacred Congregation of Rites, read the
Decree, of which we give the translation
"Ceuss Of Beatiication and Canonsation
| of the Venerable Servant of God,
Brother Gerard Msjella,
| Protested lay brother of the Congregation of
| the Most Holy Redeemer, sppeTtsiniDg to the
Diocese of Muro."
DECREE ON THE QUESTION.
| Whether it be proved that the theological
virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity toN ards
| God and his netghhor, aud also the cardinal
virtues Of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and
Temperance, with all the virtues depending
| upon them we're praotised in heroic degree
| in this case to the effect in question:
The Venerable Servant of GNd, Gerard
| M8j-ils, was received amongst the lay brothers
| OF the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeem
or, by ST. Aiphonsue himself the Founder of
the Institute. and as the latter was pre- emil
| uent amongst all the members of his congrs-
guiion, by the saEctity of his life, his ZEAL and
doctrine, so Gerard was perfect model of
for the lay brothers Born in Moro, the
9Th of April, 1926, OF poor, bat honest parents,
ard brought up by them in the fear of God as
he was endowed with q happy disposition
fIom his childhood he gave unmistakeable
signs of his future sanctity, and advanced with
| rapid strides along the arduous road of Chris
tian perfection, by innocence of life, aPplica-
tion of prayer, abstinence, and every kind of
macerStion of the flesh. During his earlier
years. spent partly in learning the service, be
| nsed to share most charitably, the wretched
food ne had begged for himself, with the poor.
But burning with the desire to give himself
wholly to Christ, under the sweet yoke of ODE
dience, he was admitted amongst the lay
brothers of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer. During his novioiste in the houee
Of IllecetO, be was an example to all in the OBJ
servance of the rule and in the year 1859, with
fervor of spirit, exciting In the Lord, he made
his profession of VOWS.
Two yesre having elapsed. he was sent to
the house of Caposele, where he employs ed him
self ipdefatigably in the humblest duties, with
all the more pleasure, the lower they were,
and appointed sometimes to be companion to
the missionaries, sometimes to gather aims,
wherever he went he worked, according to his
means, at the salvation of souls by the exam
pie of his life, bis sssiduous prayer and exhor-
Iatiops. Wslking in the law of the Lord with
out stain, he sought Him with all his heart, |
and whilst by the austerity of his penauce he
offered up his body as living holocaust, he |
continually sacrificed his soul, as q victim |
pleasing to God, by his wonderful obedience,
which peTfects all other virtues. Thus, indeed, |
he ever remained in God, who is charity, and
God remained In him. Perfected, therefore, in |
q short time by his labors, and already ripe |
for Heaven, not having completed his thirtieth
year, he was taken seriously i'll with consump-
tion, the pains and WEAKNESS of which he bore
with wonderful patience. and strengthened by
the sscrAmeuts, on the day and at the hour he
had foretoId be peaoefully rested in the Lord, |
in the wear 1855, on the feast of ST. Theresa,
whom he had most piously venerated as his
patroness.
The precious death OF Venerable Gerard 80
confirmed the reputation of sauctity he had
won for himself during his lifetime that St.
AlphoDsus himself, having gathered together
fellow-servAnt when he was called away to his
heavenly homo. As this reputation of Saneti- |
ty was more and more confirmed as years went |
on, his Holiness, Pope Pins TX on the 18th Of