Gerardo Mayela (1726–1755)

Biography

Since he was a child he was very pious and even forgot to go to eat when he was praying before the Blessed Sacrament. When his father died, Gerardo had to abandon his studies and dedicate himself to learning tailoring in a workshop, where he was treated quite poorly. Later he started working as a laborer and his master also treated him harshly. Not once did Gerardo protest this cruel way of treating him. When he was 23 years old, some Redemptorist parents arrived in his town, and Gerardo asked to be admitted into their community as a lay brother. In that novitiate he dedicated himself so hard to everything he had to do that his companions said: “Gerardo is a madman or he is a saint.” Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorist congregation, admitted him into his community and realized that he was a soul very pleasing to God. Upon being admitted, he made his three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, but Gerardo wanted to add another: “always do what seems to me to be most pleasing to God.” His job in the community was that of a tailor and nurse, but the parents liked to take him to the missions because he read the state of people's consciences. He had the gift of bilocation and when he was in ecstasy in prayer he did not hear or see what was happening around him; The only thing that made him come to his senses was being called by his superior, since he was always extremely obedient. He also had the gift of advice, and several religious communities sent for him to ask for advice in difficult cases. Gerardo's favorite job was that of a doorman because there he could help beggars and needy people. He distributed food and clothing all day and never ran out. His last months were a mixture of physical suffering and spiritual ecstasy.