St. Gerard Majella was born at Muro, Italy, in 1726 and joined the Redemptorists at the age of 23. Because of his great piety, extraordinary wisdom, and his gift of reading consciences, he was permitted to counsel communities of religious women.  He also had the faculties of levitation and bi-location associated with certain mystics. This great saint is invoked as a patron of expectant mothers as a result of a miracle effected through his prayers for a woman in labor.