Saint Gemma Galgani

Birth: March 12, 1878
Death: April 11, 1903
Introduction of Cause for Canonisation: April 28, 1920 (Her dear heavenly friend and brother, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, who often appeared to her, was canonised approximately two weeks later on May 13, 1920)
Declared “Venerable”: November 29, 1931
Beatified: May 14, 1933 (St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was declared “Venerable” on May, 1905)
Canonised: May 2, 1940

Beloved of Holy People

Padre Pio seems to have had large portions of St Gemma’s letters memorized. For his part, Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J. apparently considered her Life one of his favourite books. It is said he “would ‘cut’ a favourite book – say, the Life of Gemma Galgani…in order to find some helpful text[.]” (FWD, 97) For those who have read St. Gemma’s life story, this will come as no surprise.

Whether or not you know this seraphic virgin well, the following quotations will not fail to please.

Her Angelic Purity
D. Laurence Agrimonti, a priest who visited St. Gemma said of her: “Indeed I must confess that on her glancing at me I felt so impressed that I could not look her in the face.” (LGG, 106)

Pope Pius XII (Homily at the Canonisation of St. Gemma): “Whoever looked upon Gemma Galgani’s virginal countenance and virginal eyes, which were a shining reflection of her innocent soul, felt himself drawn away from the things of the earth to those of Heaven. Hence, it often happened that even men of evil life were, merely as a result of seeing her, struck as it were by a sudden light and heavenly grace and were thus impelled to lead a good Christian life.” (DM, 131)

A Description of St. Gemma in Ecstasy
Fr. Peter Paul: “Her bearing during those moments was truly angelic, and her countenance was resplendent with beauty joined with a marvellous majesty.” (LGG, 93)

Her Childlike Simplicity
Ven. Germanus of St. Stanislaus, C.P. (St. Gemma’s spiritual director): “She talked to her Lord with the same ease and confidence as a little child speaks to her father while sitting on his knee, as in her right place. Nay, without being wanting in reverence, she addressed Him with the same simplicity of words and ways that we use with our fellow-creatures.” (LGG, 128)

All that Comes from Jesus’ Hands is Loveable
Ven. Germanus of St. Stanislaus, C.P.: “Beside herself with joy she went about exclaiming and repeating [among other things] … ‘All that Jesus wills, I desire; everything that Jesus sends me is a gift’.” (LGG, 189)

Jesus is there with us, and in us, in Temptation
After a tempestuous night, St. Gemma was complaining to Our Lord. Why didn’t He help her? He replied at once: “O daughter, you do not see Me, but I am helping you more now than before. O how dear you are in My eyes in these moments!” (PSG, 80)

No One is Stronger than Jesus
Jesus to St. Gemma: “I am all thine. Who can overcome thee?” (LGG, 331)

The Affection of Jesus
St. Gemma: “Having been to Holy Communion, I felt Jesus coming, and do you know how I felt Him? At first, when I had scarcely received Him into my heart, He began to make it beat, oh so violently, that I thought it would leap from my breast. Then He asked me if I really loved Him. I answered: ‘Yes.’
‘And do You love me?’ I said.
Then Jesus touched me; kissed me; and I remained as if reduced to ashes in His presence.” (LGG, 249)

The Playfulness of Jesus
St. Gemma writes: “Father, how long must I remain in the world? Yesterday morning I prayed Jesus to liberate me from the body; I told Him it seemed imprisoned, and I asked Him to free me that I might go to Him. And Jesus playfully said to me: ‘And where would you fly?’ ‘To You!’ And then Jesus answered: ‘Let me come a little while longer to you and then, when I shall free you, you will come to Me’.” (PSG, 163)

“What eye hath not seen…”
St. Gemma to a Sister (shortly before Gemma’s death): “Oh! if you, Sister, could see an atom of what Jesus has shown me, what joy it would cause you!” (LGG, 345)

Reduced to Ashes
St. Gemma writes: “I would have my heart become ashes, that all should say: Gemma has been burned to ashes for Jesus.” (LGG, 240)

A Beautiful Anecdote
Fr. Germanus relates: “Finding myself one day at table with the family, who are benefactors to our Institute [the Passionists], on seeing Gemma, who was sitting opposite me, all absorbed in God, I used my authority as her spiritual father and told her to distract herself, that not being the time or place for prayer. At my words I saw that she turned pale and seemed to tremble all over. She continued to eat as if her manifest mental suffering was nothing. After table, calling her aside, I saw that she was perspiring profusely.
Now what is this? I said to her, wondering.
You know it, Father, she answered with her usual candour. Oh, did you not take Jesus from me at table? And can I live without thinking of Him?” (LGG, 219)

Some of Her Words in Ecstasy
“Who has slain Thee, Jesus? Love!” (LGG, 268)

“Love is truly a recompense for Your benefits, is it not? But I love You anyway. I do not love You just for Your gifts. Not at all! I love You because You are my Jesus.” (PSG, 228)

“My Mother, I desire to possess you always and I do not wish to be separated from you any longer. Oh! bring me to Paradise. I can no longer live without you. Do you see the suffering that you are causing me? I need your Heart. Yes, each day I seek you in order to pour into this Heart the sorrowful transports of mine.” (PSG, 234)

Sources:
DM: Garrigou-Lagrange et al., Divine Masterpieces: Sketches of Some Heroic Lovers of God, Edited and Translated by John J. Sullivan, S.J. (Paterson, New Jersey: St. Anthony Guild Press, 1960)
FWD: Alfred O’Rahilly, Father William Doyle, S.J., Fourth Impression (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1922)
LGG: Fr. Germanus, C.P., The Life of Gemma Galgani, Translated by the Rev. A. M. O’Sullivan, O.S.B. (London and Edinburgh: Sands & Company, 1913)
PSG: Sister Saint Michael, S.S.J., Portrait of Saint Gemma: A Stigmatic (New York: P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1950)