Patron St. of Mothers in Childbirth and the Unborn (Lk 11:49) by John Sturm

16 Oct Patron St. of Mothers in Childbirth and the Unborn (Lk 11:49) by John Sturm

“I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute in order that this generation might be charged.” ~ Lk 11:49 (full readings)
.
John’s Reflections:  In the case of St. Gerard Majella (the patron saint of mothers in childbirth and the unborn), God sent him as a prophet to the people of Italy in 1726 that all might know the love of God.  He was ridiculed throughout his life for the degree of penance he took on himself; all in his attempt to imitate the life of Jesus.  At one point his reputation was falsely damaged for impropriety, but he remained silent for years until his accuser repented.  One might say that by taking on the sufferings of Jesus, St. Gerard personally fulfilled the words of Jesus, “I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute in order that this generation might be changed.”  After his death, St. Gerard Majella became widely known as:  “il santo dei felice parti” — the Saint of Happy Childbirth for the many miracles that he performed.  Likewise, if we are Running for Life on God’s team, we are called to imitate the life of Jesus.  With humble credit to St. Paul, we can say, “it is no longer I who run, but Christ who runs through me.”  We have been given as prophets to our culture just like St. Gerard to signify and elevate the sacredness of Mothers and all Children, born & unborn
* John is a LIFE Runner, devotion author and Lay Member of the Visitation Monastery.  He and his wife Judy have three daughters and three grandchildren.
.
Faith Challenge:  Imagine yourself in the crowd with Jesus being verbally taunted by the Pharisees and then remaining silent before Pontius Pilate.  Do we silently bear the ridicule we sometimes hear when we run and offer it up for the Unborn?

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
.
Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day:  St. Gerard Majella died in 1755, and was canonized in 1904 by Pope Pius X.
.
Faith Quote:  “I ask for the grace that I may be the kind of person who will silently bear the taunts and persecution of others for the sake of Jesus, especially in remembrance of the sufferings of St. Gerard Majella and his great love of mothers and the unborn.”
.
Through Christ our Lord,
John