World War I claimed an estimated 16 million lives. The influenza
epidemic that swept the world in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million people.
One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within
months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.
It caught doctors and scientists completely by surprise and when
people contracted the disease, even in the US, they were ill prepared to treat
it. By today’s medical standards, it
would probably not be as deadly, but back in the early 20th Century……..
Sylveen Batty (my grandmother) contracted the disease in Autumn that
year. Doctors told her husband Clarence
and her mother to “go home and make arrangements” because she was not expected
to survive the night—and the child she was carrying (my mother) likely would not
survive either.
They were devastated! They
started contacting family and friends to pray for Grandma, and had the priest
come in to give her Viaticum. Someone
mentioned that there was a “new” saint she knew about who was the patron saint
of new mothers and difficult pregnancies.
Somehow, Great-grandma got ahold of a relic that “just happened” to be
in town. She and Grandpa took the relic
to the hospital and placed the relic on Grandma’s stomach. They spent the evening in prayer asking for
St. Gerard’s intercession to our Lord for a miracle survival.
It worked! The next morning,
the doctor was amazed that Grandma was still alive, and in fact so much improved
that the prognosis for her survival (and that of my mother) was good, and she
could go home in a couple of days!
That was the first time our family relied on St. Gerard. There was a second time as well, and the
reason my middle name is Gerard.
In early 1953, my mom found out she was pregnant again, but she was
really worried. She had had three
miscarriages since her last child (Bill) and was afraid she might have another
heartbreaking miscarriage this time.
Grandma reminded Mom of her own “worrisome” pregnancy and the prayers to
St. Gerard. Grandma and Mom turned to
the saint once again for his intercession and promised that if this pregnancy
went to term, she would name the child after him.
I can tell you from personal experience and gratitude that if you
know anyone who is struggling with a pregnancy or motherhood, turning to St.
Gerard is a pretty good bet! You can read more about him here.
St. Gerard, Pray for us!
