Devotions to the Virgin Mary

Devotion to the Virgin Mary is very much part of a Redemptorist's spiritual life, especially in Saint Gerard's day.

It would have been expected of him to recite at least five decades of the rosary every day and to fast on the eve of the Virgin's feasts.

Gerard added a few personal devotions to his every day life. He wrote the following in his resolutions:

Before and after every meal I will recite three Hail Marys; when taking a drink of water one Hail Mary; every time the clock strikes one Hail Mary.

In addition to this Gerard would recite a Gloria Patri each time he saw an image of the Virgin or heard her name, Maria in Italian, being said. He also constantly wore a rosary around his neck.

Image: Our Lady of Good Counsel. Saint Gerard would have been very familiar with this picture and is sometimes portrayed with it in the background.

German holy card

A German devotional print of Saint Gerard (Sanctus Gerardus Majella) printed by B. Kühlen in Mönchengladbach. The print dates from the early 20th century.

Gerard visits Gerard

In 1996 the Dutch writer Gerard Reve (1923-2006) made a pilgrimage to the popular Redemptorist shrine of Saint Gerard Majella in Wittem, the Netherlands.

As Gerard Reve was raised in a communist family it is not likely he was actually named after the saint. However, in the 1960s the controversial writer converted to Catholicism and became a fervent practicer of the faith. Not unlike his namesake Gerard Majella he had a strong devotion for the Virgin Mary, who featured in many of his works.

Gerardo de los niños

A statue of Saint Gerard Majella in the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

By the people of San Luis Potosi he is referred to as 'Gerardo de los niños', which means 'Gerard of the children'.

St Gerard stamp

In 2005 it was 250 years ago that Saint Gerard died. For that occasion the Italian postal services issued a stamp with a modern portrait of the saint. The shrine of Mater Domini is depicted in the background.

Churches: The Hague

This church dedicated to Saint Gerard Majella in The Hague, the Netherlands, was designed by the architect Jan Stuyt and was built in 1922-1924.

In 1984 this beautiful building was demolished due to secularisation of the neighbourhood in which it stood. It was replaced by a much smaller modern church.

Litany of Saint Gerard

This is the Litany of Saint Gerard Majella, as found in the Manual C.SS.R. (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) and the Purgatorian Manual:

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help,
Pray for us.

Saint Joseph, foster-father of Christ,
Pray for us.

Saint Alphonsus, founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer,
Pray for us.

Saint Gerard Majella,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, enriched with extraordinary graces from early youth,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, perfect model of a faithful servant,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, bright pattern of the working classes,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, great lover of prayer and work,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, seraph of love toward the Blessed Sacrament,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, living image of the crucified Saviour,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, zealous client of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, bright mirror of innocence and penance,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, admirable model of heroic obedience,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, silent victim of ignominious calumny,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, great before God by thy deep humility,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, truly wise by thy childlike simplicity,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, supernaturally enlightened in divine mysteries,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, solely desirous of pleasing God,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, zealous promoter of the conversion of sinners,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, wise counselor in the choice of vocation,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, enlightened guide in the direction of souls,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, loving friend of the poor and afflicted,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, safe refuge in sickness and sorrow,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, wonderful protector of unbaptized children,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, compassionate intercessor in every necessity,
Pray for us.

St. Gerard, honor and glory of the Redemptorist Order,
Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, Saint Gerard,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

O God, Who wast pleased to draw
blessed Gerard to Thyself from his youth,
and to render him conform able
to the image of Thy crucified Son,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that following his example,
we may be transformed into the selfsame image,
through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

San Gerardo Maiella

An Italian postcard of 'San Gerardo Maiella' from the 1930s.

This postcard was probably sold at the shrine of Saint Gerard and the Mater Domini (Mother of the Lord) in Caposele. The blank space below the saint's name was meant for a message from a pilgrim to the addressee, for instance if a prayer request had been fulfilled at the shrine.