ST GERARD SAGREDO, BISHOP AND MARTYR - 24 SEPTEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 24th of September

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SAINT GERARD SAGREDO, BISHOP AND MARTYR

The Roman Martyrology* calls Gerard Sagredo  (Gerardus) "Apostle of Hungary." He was born in Venice between the years 970 and 980. From childhood onwards he received the grace to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and to follow the gospel teachings in everything. He renounced the world and became a monk at S. Giorgio Maggiore. In his 30th year he was ordained a priest. Driven by pious devotion, he and several companions decided to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Passing through Hungary on their way there, Gerard spent seven years in the desert at Beel, converting the Gentiles by his holy words and deeds. Because of his zeal and ability for evangelisation and conversion, King Stephen and made him bishop of Csanad [Chonad] on Marosh (in 1036), more or less against Gerard's will. He was an avid devotee of the Blessed Virgin. All those who asked him for forgiveness for the sake of her name, had this granted by Gerard, and he considered those who heartily confessed her as the Mother of God as his special children in Christ.

Therefore, he is depicted kneeling in episcopal vestments before Mary with the child (Hack, p. 302). From him, it is said, the Hungarians learned to call Mary “Our Lady.” His example took deep roots in the Hungarian people. Everywhere he went, he endeavoured to celebrate the divine service with dignity and deep reverence, to present to the Lord the hearts of those present as holy temples. He paid particular attention to the exact and proper celebration of spiritual activities. That is why he incessantly travelled up and down his district to check how the vineyard he had to cultivate was doing. He offered  advice, praise, counsel and practical help wherever he went. Gerard was known to look after the poor, the sick and lepers; he took them into his house and let some of them sleep in his own bed.

Next to his skin he wore a rough penitential shirt which was covered by a coarse woolen outer garment. As severely as he dealt with stubborn people, so gracious and loving he treated those who repented. He was very strict with himself, however, and subjected himself to great humiliation and severe penances even for small mistakes. For example, he was not ashamed to go down on his knees and beg forgiveness of one of his servants whom he had subjected to a deserved but  severe chastisement. As long as King Stephen was alive, he did everything to support the zeal of the Bishop of Csanad.

 
After his death in 1037, a period of trial began for the young Hungarian church. Already Peter, nephew and successor of St Stephen, no longer walked in the ways of God and had to be expelled in 1042. With apostolic boldness, St Gerard opposed him and the invader Abbas, adamantly refusing to crown him. He then sought out a bishop who had no scruples to recognise and crown him. Nevertheless, he could not hold on to the throne and had to make way for King Andrew. Andrew was told to eradicate Christianity in his states. Thereupon, St Gerard and three other bishops decided to visit to the king in Stuhlweissenburg (alba regalis) to persuade him to revoke this promise.

On the way there it was made known to him that he would be able to confirm his faith in Jesus with his blood. “My brothers and friends,” he said to his companions, “tomorrow we will be called to the supper of the Lamb; let us hasten without objection and die for Christ's sake." The next day he celebrated the Sacred Mysteries at St Sabina in Stuhlweissenburg, feeding at the holy table of Christ those who were dependent on him, and then went joyfully towards his martyrdom. As they wanted to cross the Danube, stones were hurled towards his waggon. Shortly afterwards the horses were stopped and the chariot overturned, whereupon the saint was pelted with stones. He said the prayer of Archmartyr St Stephen: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" and was just about to get down on his knees when a lance stabbed him, on September 24, 1046. On the same day two bishops and many other priests were killed, "whose number and names are known to God alone are."

St Gerard was buried in the Church of Our Lady by the local Catholics. It was only under King Ladislaus that freedom of religion was granted and it was decided to give church veneration to all those killed during the persecution. Now the saint was buried in the cathedral of Csanad. According to Butler* (XIII. 284) the Venetians requested the relics of their compatriot to venerate them in the church of Our Lady of Murano. This translation is celebrated on February 23. On September 26, his feast (de indulto) is mentioned in the Roman Breviary, and the Roman Martyrology* lists Gerard on September 24.

Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, pp. 395-96 - 

📷 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Catherine_Church._Statue_of_Gerard_Sagredo._-_Budapest.JPG

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Gerard may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org