聖哲拉·馬則
聖哲拉（Saint Gerard Majella）1726年生於意大利南部的慕羅。他曾因身體虛弱兩次被拒於Capuchin monastery ，最後成為贖主會士（Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer）。
他一生獻身事主，奉行天主旨意，按神貧，貞潔，服從三願生活。據說因其聖德很高，故尚在修士的階段，已被委任為幾個婦女修道團體的神師。他在世時已經多次行奇蹟，其中最著名的是透過他的代禱，保護生產中的婦女和胎兒。
在他去世前不久，遇到了一個年輕的女孩。聖哲拉留下了他的手帕，女孩欲還給他，他婉拒並告訴她：「可能有一天妳會需要此物。」在他過世後幾年，這個女孩結婚生子，在生產時出現意外，正在危難之時，她以那手帕祈求，她的痛苦立即減輕了，繼而生下一個健康的孩子，在那時代是非常罕見及幸運的。
聖哲拉於1755年安逝。1904年由教宗聖庇約十世列入聖人名冊。
母親的禱文
啊，可敬的聖哲拉，我們在天主前的有力的代禱者和行奇能者，我呼求您，尋求您的援助。您在世上奉行主旨，請幫助我履行天主的聖意。請您為我懇求生命之主，一切父母職之源，賜我豐碩的後代，使我在今世按上主的旨意養育兒女，並期待基督光榮地再來。亞孟。
Saint Gerard Majella
St. Gerard Majella was born in 1726 in Muro, Italy. He applied to the Capuchin monastery at Muro twice, but was turned down both times. Majella was told his health was not well enough for such a strenuous life. However, Majella did not give up. In 1749, at the age of 23, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and just three years later became a professed lay brother.
Majella lived with the three vows of Poverty, Chasity and Obedience. He stayed close with the poor and worked very many different jobs. He served as sacristan, gardener, porter, infirmarian, and tailor. However, because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religious women. Majella was often called on by the poor and the sick. Wherever his presence was demanded he graciously presented himself. He was there to "do the Will of God."
This humble servant of God also had faculties associated with certain mystics including, levitation, bi-location and the ability to read souls. His charity, obedience, and selfless service as well as his ceaseless mortification for Christ, made him the perfect model of lay brothers.
Throughout his years of life, several reported miracles are tied to Majella including, restoring a boy's life after he fell from a high cliff; blessing a poor farmer's crops, ridding it of mice; blessing a poor family's supply of wheat, causing it to last until the next harvest; and he multiplied bread for the poor on several occasions.
St. Gerard Majella died on October 16, 1755 at the age of 29. Due to the numerous miracles performed through Majella's prayers, proceedings for his canonization began shortly after his death. In 1893, Majella was beatified by Pope Leo XIII and on December 11, 1904, Pope Pius X canonized the man of God.
Prayer
O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love. O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.