3rd centenary of the birth of Saint Gerard Majella

On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth, the Vatican commemorates Saint Gerard Majella (1726–1755), a shining figure of popular holiness and profound evangelical witness. Born on 6 April 1726 in Muro Lucano, in the Kingdom of Naples, Saint Gerard Majella displayed from an early age a marked religious sensitivity and an intense spiritual life. After a period of apprenticeship as a tailor, distinguished by humility and a spirit of service, he decided to dedicate himself entirely to God by entering, in 1749, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, founded by Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. His religious life was characterized by a profound spirit of obedience, charity, and penance. Despite his brief existence — he died at only twenty-nine years of age on 16 October 1755 in Materdomini — the reputation for holiness of Saint Gerard Majella soon spread because of his extraordinary dedication to the poor and his intense mystical life, accompanied by numerous miraculous events. The stamp reproduces a portrait of Saint Gerard Majella painted by the Roman artist Giovanni Battista Gagliardi (1838–1924), renowned for his predominantly religious and hagiographic works and for his distinctly devotional style. Over the centuries, devotion to Saint Gerard Majella has spread throughout many parts of the world, making him one of the most beloved saints of Southern Italy. He is especially venerated as the protector of expectant mothers and children. With this issue, the Vatican Postal and Philatelic Service renews its commitment to promoting outstanding examples of holiness that continue to speak to the hearts of men and women today.