Sometimes your inspiration just comes to you…literally. My mother-in-law had asked me to write about St. Gerard a while back as he is the middle-namesake of both her brothers. Then today what arrives in the mail from her brother who’s a brother? St. Gerard prayer cards. Ok, so here it goes.
You have probably heard of St. Gerard, Patron Saint of Pregnant Women, Mothers, and Childbirth. Surprise, surprise St. Gerard died from Tuberculosis in 1755 and was sick most of his life. Sounds like your standard saint stuff, but did you know he was favored with extraordinary gifts of wisdom such as bilocation, prophesy, and levitation. To look at why Gerard might have been so favored with wisdom, let’s look at one of the wisdom books shall we?
The Book of Proverbs includes numerous instructions about holding your tongue, and St. Gerard did this to the extreme.
“Those who guard their mouths preserve themselves; those who open wide their lips bring ruin.”
13:3
Beginning when he worked for a tailor where a manager frequently mistreated and beat St. Gerard, he never complained to the patron.
“It is good sense to be slow to anger and an honor to overlook an offense.”
19:11
Later when St. Gerard was falsely accused of fathering an expecting woman’s baby, he kept silent and showed no emotion. His superiors enforced strict penance until finally it became known that the accusations of him were indeed false.
The Book of Proverbs also tells us that “Long suffering results in great wisdom.”
14:29
We know that St. Gerard suffered greatly throughout his life. In addition to being born into poverty he also began his practice of fasting as a child. He struggled with his physical health much throughout his short life before dying at the young age of 29 (on the exact date he prophesized).
He frequently fell into ecstasy while meditating on God and at such times his body was seen raised several feet above the ground. St. Gerard had such wisdom he could tell people the sins they were too ashamed to confess, bringing them penance and peace.
Some think it odd that a man be the patron saint of motherhood, but I think it all makes sense in one word- “bilocation.” Yes, multiple times St. Gerard was granted the rare miracle of being seen and spoken to in two places at the same time. What mother doesn’t wish she could be in two places at once?!
In looking at my St. Gerard Novena it became clear to me who needed to say it. My 21-week pregnant sister-in-law has been struggling with unbearable morning sickness and fatigue. I told her if she prays his novena (and means it) he will intercede and ease her discomfort. In fact, I think I have a St. Gerard medal I’ll put on her as well. Let’s see how this little holy experiment of mine works shall we?
For one Ms. Mary Francis (who I am told was as saint-like as they come), St. Gerard was her go-to during her eight pregnancies within ten years. Let’s see if her granddaughter sparks as much favor with this patient miracle worker. Oh, look at me getting all cocky with my newfound biblical knowledge! Don’t worry, she already promised to repay me with naming rights. 😉