BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

assiduously and frequently such remarks as these were addressed to her: 'Why so much study! Don't you
know enough already?' Her father and friends, although proud of her scholastic attainments and the prizes
she won, were more anxious that her health should be completely restored, and therefore welcomed the
doctor's suggestion.
Gemma obeyed and settled down to the daily round in the home where she always gave 'an example of
humility and patience.' According to her brother Guido, she was always meek and submissive, the
peacemaker in all their childish quarrels, , the bearer of the olive branch.' Her Aunt Elisa reports how willingly
she performed her domestic duties and that she directed her attention especially towards helping her
younger brothers and sisters in every possible way, and in teaching them their prayers. 'Her example not
only encouraged her brothers and sisters, but was the admiration of us, her aunts, and of her father.'
Alessandrina Maggi, a domestic servant of Gemma's uncles at Camaiore, made the following deposition :
‘I know that when at her father's wish she left school and remained at home, she carried out her duties to the
admiration of all, and was occupied more with her brothers' and sisters' education than with material cares. I
remember that sometimes she had to suffer much from one of her sisters. She never, however, was wanting
in charity, nor became impatient with her .... Gemma always liked to say the morning and evening prayers
with her brothers and sisters. She used to take the younger ones to Church, where every evening she taught
them to say the Rosary and other family prayers.'
Guido also remembered that Gemma used to teach catechism not only to the children at home, but also to
the children of the neighbourhood, and that she used to sew and embroider articles for the Church. She
greatly venerated whatever pertained even indirectly to the Mass. On one occasion she made a piece of
point lace to decorate an altar cloth for the private chapel of Mgr . Volpi.
SACRIFICE AND RENUNCIATION
It was not always easy for Gemma to be the bearer of the olive branch. In her home, as in every other home,
the various members of the family did not always see eye to eye. One of the members of the household,
irritated by the piety of Gemma and her aunts, shrugging the shoulders, used to say: ‘You are hypocrites!'
Others, among them one of her sisters, disliked Gemma's ways and let her know it. To all offensive remarks,
however, she replied patiently and sweetly. Years later when the sister in question asked forgiveness for her
unkindness, Gemma bade her forget it and think rather of being good and of not offending God.
It should be remembered that when these things were happening Enrico was either dead or was already in
the grip of the terrible disease-cancer of the throat-that caused his death. Otherwise no one would have
dared to treat his favorite daughter so unkindly.
Two episodes in particular caused her virtues to shine forth conspicuously, and these virtues, which were the
fruit of self-sacrifice, are eminently imitable. For it must not be forgotten that, according to the witnesses in
the processes, Gemma had a lively and impulsive disposition, and only appeared outwardly calm and selfpossessed
because of her virtue and strength of will. The first episode is thus related in the Processes :
‘One of her brothers wished to attend the theatre one evening but had not enough money. Gemma tried to
dissuade him from going and to put the matter out of his head. This upset him and matters were not
improved by Gemma saying smilingly: "It's not worth getting upset about." His vexation then reached such a
pitch that he gave her a blow in the eye that left a mark .... The next day, when asked what had happened to
her, she answered with wonderful reticence: "I richly deserved it.".
The second episode was related by her Aunt Elisa:
‘In her dealings with her brothers and sisters she was always humble, even though, as the eldest daughter,
she could have insisted upon her authority being respected. One day she reproved one of her sisters for
standing at the window, and tried to induce her to come away, saying: "Our brothers do not like it, and
besides, it is not the proper thing for us to do." Her sister turned round and becoming violently angry, caught
Gemma by the hair. The noise quickly brought my sister Elena to the scene. When Elena reproached
Gemma's sister with her want of self-control and with the evil she had done, Gemma, even in these
circumstances, calm and collected, intervened by saying: " Aunt, it's all right, there is nothing to worry about."
Afterwards she asked us not to speak of the incident to her brother Guido, who would certainly have
16