St Gerard's Triduum

This three day event in honour of St. Gerard Majella, it is held each year in October here in Esker. This Triduum is a time for people to come in thanks giving of favours received from St. Gerard or to request their petitions. People can also receive a blessing of the First Class relic of St. Gerard Majella which is kept here in Esker.

St. Gerard Majella who is known as the patron saint of mothers and mothers-to-be was born in 1726 in a little town called Muro in Southern Italy. He joined the Redemptorists in 1749, became a brother and died at the age of twenty-nine.

He led a life of obedience and humility, he worked tirelessly at every job that was assigned to him, his motto was to do his work according to God’s will.

Two miracles which were of importance to the confirming of Gerard as the patron saint of mothers-to-be.

The first took place in Senerchia where a woman was dying in child-birth. Her husband and family knew Gerard from his mission work and begged him to pray for them. He prayed and the mother and baby lived.

The second took place years later, after the Gerard’s death. He was very popular in the town of Oliveto and had many friends there. He was once visiting the Pirofalo family and as he was leaving his handkerchief fell to the floor. A young girl in the family hurried to return it to him. “Keep it it may be useful to you some day” he said to her.

Some years later that same girl was expecting her first child and was dangerously ill. It was thought neither mother or baby would survive. She remembered the handkerchief. She cried out for it in prayer and no sooner was it brought to her and she began to get better. Her baby was born without further trouble.

Miracles such as these that have been attributed to St Gerard, and from them his popularity among expectant mothers has grown.