National Tour of Relics of St Gerard Majella
St Joseph's RC Church, Audley Range, Audley, Blackburn BB1 1TGTuesday 25th February 2025
6.30pm
A prayerful opportunity to pray before the relics of St Gerard Majella is set to take place in Blackburn next week.
St Joseph’s RC Church, Audley Range, will be hosting a Triduum for the relics of St Gerard Majella between 25th – 27th February, as part of a nation tour being given by the Redemptorists – the order to which the saint belonged.
The evening will focus on the the three patronages of St Gerard Majella: Friend of Workers, Making a Good Confession, The Mother’s Saint.
Each evening will begin at 6.30pm with private prayer before the relics, then Mass at 7pm, and individual and family blessings with the relic after Mass.
People will be offered the opportunity to go to Confession after Mass as well (if somebody would like to do so before Mass, please call the parish on 01254 675534)
Light Refreshments will be available after Mass.
St Gerard Majella
Born in 1726 in the Kingdom of Naples, Gerard Majella is today venerated as the patron saint of mothers, expectant mothers, children (particularly unborn children), good confessions, and the falsely accused.
In 1749, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer – known as the Redemptorists – and is remembered for his dedication and service to others, as well as numerous miracles.
One such miracle tells the story of a visit St Gerard paid to a local family. During this visit, he dropped his handkerchief and when one of the girls rushed to return it, he told her to keep hold of it as she might have need of it one day. Years later, the girl – now married – was on the verge of dying in childbirth and she asked the handkerchief to be brought to her. Almost immediately after receiving it, her pain stopped and she gave birth to a healthy child.
St Gerard Majella died on 16 October 1755, aged 29, and was canonised in 1904.
