Oftentimes when a Saint strongly desires to be alone with God, Our Lord will accommodate him in a miraculous way. One day, St. Gerard Majella obtained permission to make a one day retreat alone in his room. A short time later, the Father Rector had need of the Saint and sent someone for him. St. Gerard was not found in his room, nor anywhere else for that matter, although a thorough search was made.

The monastery doctor, Dr. Santorelli happened to be there that day and helped in the search. He went to St. Gerard’s cell, which was only ten feet by ten feet. Only a table, a stool and a bed were in the bare room. There was no where to hide, and St. Gerard was nowhere to be seen. Finally, everyone decided to wait for the time of Holy Communion, because they knew St. Gerard would appear to received Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. At that moment, St. Gerard came to the chapel to receive Holy Communion. When they asked him where he had been, he said, “In my room.” He made no reply when they recounted their thorough search him. Finally, the superior demanded that St. Gerard, under obedience, tell them where he had been. St. Gerard replied: “Fearing to be distracted in my retreat, I asked Jesus Christ for the grace to become invisible.”

Dr. Santorelli was not convinced with this answer. “How could you say that you were in your cell, when I searched every nook and corner of it with Brother Nicolo, and yet could not find you?”

St. Gerard took the good doctor to his cell and showed him the little stool on which he had been sitting during Dr. Santorelli’s search for him. “…sometimes I make myself very little.” whispered the Saint.

The story of St. Gerard’s miraculous disappearance became so well known in the area that children would play ‘brother Gerard’ instead of hide-and-seek.