BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

she suggested: 'When you write, first ask Jesus about the matter, and do not write at random, as you often
do. Forgive me for saying this, but I have wanted to say it to you for a long time.' Gemma herself was of
great assistance to Father Germanus in his direction of souls. Sometimes, indeed, she endeavored to
dissuade him from a course of action he had decided upon, for instance, to abandon the direction of certain
souls. On other occasions she advised him to have nothing to do with certain people. She did not like the
word abandon. 'Jesus never uses it,' she wrote to Father Germanus. But when it was necessary to use it,
how she suffered! 'Father, listen! Jesus desires that you no longer even think about that soul. When He told
me this I was grieved very much. But then I also learned from Confrater Gabriel that that soul is entirely
devoid of goodwill. Father, please, do not pay any attention to me especially with regard to this affair, for
surely I must be mistaken about it. When I think of it!
What will become of that soul when, as Jesus wishes, it is abandoned by you? Do make another attempt
before you give it up as hopeless. Will you?' Sometimes she gave him advice, not very often, however, and
enlightened him concerning certain people who were under his direction. , Father, that person is not as good
as she ought to be; she does not give herself to Jesus as wholeheartedly as before .... Father, is not this
what happens to all who go back and do not continue to make progress? '
Father Germanus followed the counsels of his spiritual child and found them very advantageous.
Nevertheless, in order to keep her perfectly humble, he made it appear that he paid no attention to them,
although occasionally he actually asked her prayers for souls in whom he was interested. Here is a typical
answer to such a request. 'Let us come to an agreement, Father. I shall think of N.N., and you will think of a
poor soul who is in mortal sin. I am almost certain it will be converted, but I am praying that when it is, the
Blessed Virgin may come for it immediately so that it may not fall back into the usual abyss of sin. Is it right
for me to make this prayer? I should like you to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to-morrow morning for
my sinner. Help me to save this soul, and I shall help you to know N.N., if such be the Will of God.'
Gemma helped Father Germanus in the direction of a Society established by him in Rome and in other
places, called ' The School of Jesus,' the aim of which was to encourage and increase among its members
the cultivation of the interior life, devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and zeal for the glory of God and the
salvation of souls. She not only joined this Society, but became a most zealous promoter of the work. But,
nevertheless, she endeavored to keep very much in the background, fearing, in her shoulder, and turning
round she saw someone clothed all in white. At the sight Gemma began to be afraid, but the vision said: 'I
am Mary Theresa and I have come to thank you for all you have done for me. Continue to pray for a few
days longer, and then I shall be eternally happy.' The vision disappeared and Gemma quietly went on with
her reading.
One morning after Holy Communion Gemma learned that the day of this soul's liberation had come and that
when it would be freed that same night she would be given a sign. This is how she describes the incident in
her diary: 'At about half-past one it seemed to me that the Blessed Virgin came to tell me that the hour was
drawing near. After a little while, indeed, I thought I saw myself before Mary Theresa dressed as a
Passionist, accompanied by her Guardian Angel and by Jesus. Oh, how changed she looked since the day I
saw her first! Smiling she came towards me and told me how truly happy she was and that she was going to
possess her Jesus for all eternity. She thanked me again. . . . Several times she waved me good-bye with
her hand, and then at about half-past two, together with Jesus and her Guardian Angel, she flew away to
Heaven.' When she described these apparitions to her confessor, Gemma told him. how much she had
suffered at seeing the nun going off to Heaven. 'I have suffered very much, you know,' she said, ' I wanted to
go there also.'
However, the work of this fervent apostle was not finished. She had yet to open the gates of Heaven to many
souls, and thereby stud with precious pearls the crown of glory which was to encircle her brow for all eternity.
CHAPTER XXII
A GREAT WORK -HER VOCATION
Running through the last years of Blessed Gemma's life was an intense longing to enter a convent. Her
unsuccessful attempt to become a Visitandine seemed but to increase her desire to become a nun, a desire
that was far from being satisfied by her frequent, but short visits to the' Mantellate' Convent.
When Gemma first met Father Gaetano during the mission at Lucca in 1899, she spoke of this desire. She
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