Oftentimes, one of the last things which we can describe a young person is that they are “holy”. We tend to attribute to the young an attitude of recklessness and carelessness which makes them easier to fall into sin. However, this isn't the case with many young saints: short though their lives may be, they have gained merits not only for themselves, but also for others in the spirit of victimhood and sacrifice, as seen in the example of St. Gemma Galgani. (NB: The Passionist Order celebrates her Feast on May 16, which is also the traditional feast of the Saint before the Second Vatican Council.) Our ministry is blessed to have a relic of her body "ex corpore" graciously granted by the Passionist Nuns of her Shrine at Lucca. “Do you desire to love me? Learn to suffer first. Suffering teaches one how to love.” (Jesus to St. Gemma in a vision) Beyond the appearances there is an extraordinary Saint: a mystic in continuous and affectionate dialogue with Jesus; a contemplative saint who prays simply like a child and deeply like a theologian. She withdraws the most terrible difficulties by making herself to be helped by her Guardian Angel. A young girl, she maintains her soul candid and she compelled herself to an immaculate life. Gemma is born in Borgonuovo of Camigliano (Lucca) on 12th March 1878. While he receives the Confirmation in the Church of Saint Michael in Foro, Jesus asks her for the sacrifice of her mother. At the age of eighteen she is submitted, without anaesthesia, to a painful operation to the foot and on Christmas of the same year she makes her vow of chastity. Soon Gemma remains orphaned, nearly abandoned, in the most terrible misery. When she is twenty, Gemma refuses a wedding proposal, for being "all of Jesus". During this year she recovers miraculously from a spinal disease and the mystical experiences begin. As she is healed miraculously, in the city she is called "a child of miracles". She talks with her Guardian Angel and also gives him delicate assignments, like taking post to Rome to her spiritual director. "I give the letter, I have just finished, to the Angel, she writes. It is here beside me waiting for him". And the letters mysteriously reached the addressee without being handled by the post of the Reign. In June 1899 Christ gives her the stigmata. In the same year, during the mission in Saint Martino, Gemma knows the Passionist fathers who introduce her to the Giannini’s. Received like a daughter in this wealthy and devout house she passes her life between house and Church. But the shocking manifestations of her holiness go beyond the walls of the bourgeois house. She produces conversions, foretells future events, and falls in ecstasy. When she prays, she sweats blood; on her body, beside the signs of the nail, the plagues of the flagellation appear. Here she knows Father Germano who will direct her spiritual life. Soon people know that her black gloves and her dark and high-neck dress hide the seals of the Passion. These stigmata opened, painful and bleeding, every week on Friday evening. In front of her the scientists cannot hide their embarrassment. Some spiritual directors, too cannot explain the extraordinary young girl: they suspect mystification, hysteria, they ask for tests, they want proofs of obedience. Gemma, although enduring extreme physical pains and moral tests, does not say anything, or better, she always says Yes. She does not ask for anything, or better, she asks Jesus for more pain for herself and conversion and salvation for the others. In 1901, at the age of 23, according to Father Germano’s will, Gemma writes the Autobiography, “the notebook of my sins”. In the following year she offers herself to God as victim for the salvation of the sinners. Jesus asks her to found a monastery of cloistered Passionists in Lucca. Gemma answers with enthusiasm. In the month of September of the same year she becomes ill seriously. Her life is marked deeply by pain. The darkest period of her life has started. The consequences of the sin weigh heavily on her body as well as on her soul. In 1903, on Saint Saturday, Gemma Galgani dies at 25 years, pressed by pain, but asking for more pain until the end. In 1903 Pope St. Pius X signs the Decree of foundation of the Passionist Monastery in Lucca. In 1905 the cloistered Passionists begin their presence in Lucca, and meet the ancient desire that Jesus expressed to Gemma. Father Germano, spiritual director of Gemma, wrote the first biography for Gemma in 1907. The canonical processes for the acknowledgment of her holiness start. In 1933 Pius XI includes Gemma Galgani into the Blessed souls of the Church. In 1940 Venerable Pius XII will raise Gemma Galgani to the glory of the Saints and to show her as model of the universal Church for her heroic practise of the Christian virtues. PRAYERSPrayer to Jesus for a specific favor written by St. Gemma
Behold me at Your most holy feet, O dear Jesus, to manifest to you my gratitude for the continual favors which You have bestowed upon me, and still wish to bestow upon me. As many times as I have invoked You, O Jesus, You have made me content; I have often had recourse to You and You have always consoled me. How shall I express myself to You, dear Jesus? I thank you! Yet one more grace I desire of you, O my God, if it would be pleasing to You (here mention your request). If you were not omnipotent, I would not make this request. O Jesus, have pity on me. May your most holy will be done in all things" Prayer to St. Gemma often recited by the Passionists Oh St. Gemma, how compassionate was your love for those in distress, and how great your desire to help them. Help me, also in my present necessity and obtain for me the favor I humbly implore, if it be profitable for my soul. The numerous miracles and the wonderful favors attributed to your intercession instill in me the confidence that you can help me. Pray to Jesus, your Spouse, for me. Show Him the stigmata which His love has given you. Remind Him of the blood which flowed from these same wounds, the excruciating pain which you have suffered and the tears which you have shed for the salvation of souls. Place all this as your precious treasure in a chalice of love and Jesus will hear you. Amen. Comments are closed.
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![]() "All the Saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and to carry me. Indeed, the communion of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went before us and whose names we know. All of us belong to the communion of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us like himself. Yes, the Church is alive – this is the wonderful experience of these days. "
(Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on the Mass of Inauguration to the Petrine Ministry, 24 April 2005) NOTE:This ministry does not entertain requests nor for information to obtain the relics which appear in this website. Guide For Relic ClassificationWe strive to provide English translations of the terminology used to label relics. However, there may be a need to consult the original term to avoid confusion.
Please go to this page for a short guide to relic classification. Instagram Feed/BlogArchives
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