At 6:00 PM on August 24, three firecrackers called the people of Muro Lucano, marking the beginning of the novena dedicated to San Gerardo Maiella, which was held at the co-cathedral of Muro Lucano, the birthplace of San Gerardo. The saint was placed next to the pulpit, ready to wait for his devotees, who in the nine days in preparation for the patronal feast, in front of him, listened, confided, expressed what they had in their hearts: thanks, requests for help, blessings, supplications. Gerardo offered all the faithful a time of MEETING: meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist, meeting with the merciful father, meeting with the sick and the elderly, meeting with pregnant women, mothers, children, couples who wish to become parents. In fact, we can define this and not only those key points that constitute the spirituality of the Holy Redemptorist Brother and that he wants to transmit to us.
The parish priest, Don Thomas, invited the faithful to reflect on the figure of Saint Gerard, stimulating the desire to live by choosing holiness, just like our fellow countryman Gerard who spent his childhood walking our streets, attending our churches, meeting the people of Muro of the time.
On August 29, the community of Muro welcomed the Redemptorist preacher Father Filippo: the presence of the Redemptorists among us is always a treasure. The Missionary Father made us taste the Gerardian spirituality through his homilies, his testimony, his availability, his attention and he reminded us of the importance of prayer and of listening to the Word, in daily life, in imitation of Saint Gerard. The participation in the Eucharist on the evening by the parish community of Baragiano, the birthplace of Domenico Maiella, father of Gerard, who later moved to Muro, was very enriching: we wanted to tighten once again this relationship of friendship and spirituality that sees both our towns linked to the protector of Basilica.
On September 2nd, Muro Lucano was dressed in white and blue: flowers, bows, balloons, images of the saint embellished our streets and flower arrangements gave color to the square in front of the cathedral, to honor “dear Gerard.” In the morning at 8, the sound of the bells and that of the band announced the joy of the celebration to the entire community of the Lucanian town. The image of the saint was carried in procession through the alleys and districts, accompanied by the songs and prayers of numerous faithful and the presence of civil and religious authorities, and returned to the cathedral for the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the archbishop Father Davide Carbonaro. The prelate stated during the homily that “while we rejected him, God sent him: ‘To remove oppression, finger pointing and wicked speech.’ Saint Gerard Majella is the son of that rejection that our humanity generates. There is no place for him in Society and in the Church. He receives many oppositions. But he is the man of faithful yes to God and to us. His fragility belongs to us, as does the strength that is born from his love. There is a place for him in the heart of God, in his plan that raises the poor and the humble and makes them sit on his bosom, like poor Lazarus in the bosom of his father Abraham (Cf. Lk 16:22).
Saint Gerard was given to this land of Basilicata, as a ransom for the poor, the pride of those who cultivate the land with the sweat of their brow. His was not a social redemption, but a redemption of the heart. He did not organize protests, he did not defend himself from humiliation and insults, he did not boast of social rights, he did not turn his eyes away from his people. In the most extreme poverty, he placed himself at the service of the poor, because he understood what was going on in their hearts, and that the redemption of a little was worth much more than the possession of everything. Without tools he became the instrument for the relief of the least […] Gerard teaches us to embrace humanity. For this reason, in the face of total disinterest that surrounds him, he responds: You interest me! You belong to me! In my heart there is room for you and for the hope that you cultivate in yourself! We can say that Gerard’s stature is very high, because he lives in him the same passion as Jesus for our humanity, his desire for the unity of the human race, the profound care for his brother.”
Let us entrust ourselves to our dear Saint. May he, who loved God very much, teach us to love him and intercede with the Lord for every person who invokes him.
Maria Donata Perillo
