The 6th of April 2026 marked the 300th Anniversary of the Birth of St. Gerard Majella. St. Gerard was born in Muro Lucano on the 6th of April 1726. Today, his mortal remains rest in the Basilica of St Gerard Majella in Materdomini where Gerard spent the last months of his life and passed away on the 16th of October 1755 at the age of 29 years.
The Tricentenary of the birth of St. Gerard Majella was celebrated in a very solemn and deeply spiritual manner. The day, 6th April 2026 was also Easter Monday, or Pasquetta as it is known in Italy. It was providential for the Redemptorists to celebrate this special occasion on Easter Monday given Gerard’s own personal union with the Crucified and Risen Lord.
The day was marked by a solemn Eucharistic Celebration. The principal celebrant was His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Cardinal Semeraro expressed his delight at being able to be present and to preside at the Tricentenary mass given his own personal devotion to St. Gerard and that he has in his office in the Dicastery for Saints a copy of the painting used as a standard for the canonisation of St Gerard, the episode of St Gerard in ecstasy at the door of the Community at Materdomini among the poor with the blind flutist playing the composition of St. Alphonsus’ “Il tuo gusto, non è il mio” (Your desire, not mine).
At the Eucharist were present the Archbishop of Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi-Conza-Nusco-Bisaccia, Italy, Archbishop Pasquale Cascio. He warmly welcomed Cardinal Semeraro at the start of the Eucharistic Celebration on behalf of the clergy and people of the archdiocese in which Materdomini is part of. Also, present was the Archbishop of Potenza, Mons Davide Carbonaro and the Abbot of Montevergine Dom Riccardo Guariglia. Fr. General, Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R, General Consultors Bro Larry Lujan, C.Ss.R., representing the Brothers in the Congregation, Fr. Nicolas Ayouba, C.Ss.R, and Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R, Fr Vicente Soria Fleitas, C.Ss.R, the Economo General along with confreres from the community of San Alfonso in Rome were also present. The Provincial Superior of the Province of Europe South, Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino, C.Ss.R, along with many confreres from Pagani, Ciorani, Avellino, Marianella in Naples and the Superior Fr. Serafino Fiore, C.Ss.R., and members of the community in Materdomini along with priests from the diocese including, civil and military authorities, confreres and numerous faithful from all over Italy gathered for the celebration which was held in the Bigger Church with live transmission in the Basilica so than all could participate.
Cardinal Semeraro highlighted the life and Spirituality of St. Gerard stressing two important aspects, namely, his desire to the will of God constantly in the daily activities of life as well as his ability to manifest his love for God through his love for his brothers and sisters, especially the poor. These two aspects are relevant for all today thus making St Gerard a Saint that has a universal appeal even today.
Fr. Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R, Superior General, thanked the Cardinal at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration for his presence, his homily, and his constant closeness to the Redemptorists. He stressed the multi-faceted life of St Gerard who as a Consecrated brother served as porter, receptionist, tailor, carpenter, artist, visiting people on the missions, visiting the sick and suffering and praying and blessing them especially sick children and childless couples and pregnant women, fund raiser, spiritual director for religious sisters and preacher of recollections for religious sisters. All of this in the few years he lived as a Redemptorist (1749 to 1755) thus becoming for all Redemptorists but especially for the Brothers an example to emulate.
After the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the Big Church, the concelebrants and the Cardinal went in procession to the Basilica to venerate and pray before the tomb of St Gerard with has his relics while the choir intoned the famous hymn to St. Gerard, “San Gerard mio, prega per me!” (My St. Gerard, pray for me!).
The presence of thousands of faithful from the surrounding towns including Redemptorist parishes of Ciorani, Avellino, Pagani and other towns frequented by St. Gerard especially the people of Muro Lucano with their parish priest was testament to the popularity till this day of St. Gerard among the people. As many as 10 confreres were sitting for confessions all day through the day as a fitting reminder of the grace of reconciliation which was so dear to the heart of St. Gerard.
Every Redemptorist parish in the South of Italy will be celebrating this special event, the Tricentenary of the Birth of St. Gerard with different activities all through this year of the tricentenary. The prayer at the end of the homily of Cardinal Semeraro is a prayer that each of us can make our own: ““Lord, in this Sacrament you give yourself wholly to us; grant that, like Saint Gerard, we too may learn from you to serve our brothers and sisters without reserve, with a free heart filled with charity. Amen.”
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
Consultor General
Below are the Homily of Cardinal Semeraro and the words of gratitude by Fr. Rogerio Gomes, CSsR, Superior General.
