Caposele, at the Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella "Mothers and Children's Day"

An event that takes place every year in Materdomini, a hamlet of Caposele, on the last Sunday of May.

The celebration,  "Mothers and Children's Day" also known as "Rose Sunday", due to the flowers that mothers offer as gifts to the Mother of God, is one of the most important moments of devotion held at the Sanctuary of Saint Gerard. 

On this occasion, in fact, thousands of faithful gather to celebrate the patron saint of mothers and children, whose fame is linked, in particular, to the miracle of the handkerchief.

The story goes that, shortly before his death, Gerardo left a handkerchief near the home of a family from Oliveto Citra who had given him hospitality. It was picked up by a little girl who, at the invitation of the Saint, kept the object, as it might have been useful to her. After a few years, the little girl, who had in the meantime become a woman, suffered a lot due to childbirth and, to alleviate her pain, she asked for the handkerchief that Saint Gerard had given her. The doctors, after placing the handkerchief on the woman's belly, found that her suffering ceased and, thus, the birth of her firstborn occurred without difficulty.

This miracle contributed to strengthening the figure of San Gerardo Maiella even more, even on the occasion of this wonderful day.

Mothers and Children's Day brings together many families, united by affection and devotion towards one of the most loved saints in all of Irpinia.

Translated with Google translate