BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

eached home she would say that she had already had her supper.'
Justina Giannini on her side deposed that the Galgani family was so badly off that often they had nothing to
eat, and that it was said that collections were made throughout the city for these poor people who had once
known ease and comfort, and who in consequence were ashamed to beg and thus make their poverty
known.
According to Elisa Galgani this state of affairs lasted a long time. 'We had nothing. The Court and the
creditors took all. In the beginning we depended upon the charity of the good, but afterwards Guido got a
position as chemist at the City Hospital.' Gemma, however, was not appalled by the poverty to which she and
her family were reduced, because she considered poverty and the sorrows of life as precious gifts from Godas
an ignored inheritance reserved by Him for the elect.
‘This is the state of life God desired for us,' she often said to the family, and was content thus to fulfil the will
of God. 'And not only did she love to be poor,' continued her aunt, ' but she encouraged us to love it also.
And at this time we were in want even of necessaries!' According to her own account she tried to bear the
heaviest burdens that arose from this state of affairs and to alleviate the sufferings which the others endured
as a result of their poverty. 'No matter how small it was,' said Elisa Galgani, ' Gemma always reserved the
smallest portion for herself.' And another witness declared that she ate very little in order to have more to
give to her brothers.
Gemma knew how to inspire others with her own confidence in God. A domestic servant from her uncle's
home at Camaiore, deposed:
‘In these sad circumstances Gemma found a means of exciting even myself to have confidence in the
Providence of God. She used to say to me: "Say the Rosary of five decades with these words: 'Providence of
God, have mercy on me.' When you have said that ten times, add: 'Providence of God, You have provided
for me,' or, 'Providence of God, You will provide.' "
Gemma also expressed the same sentiments to her Aunt Elisa, ' Have patience, have patience, God will
provide.' And God always did provide.
CHAPTER VII
AT CAMAIORE WITH HER UNCLE AND AUNT
In order to relieve the distress of the family, at least partially, Gemma's uncle and aunt who lived at Camaiore
decided to take her to live with them. She was their favorite niece. For seven or eight years Gemma had
been accustomed to spend a few months every year at Camaiore with the Lencioni family, who now did their
best to make her forget her recent sorrow by surrounding her with every possible care. Elisa Galgani has left
us an account of this visit :
‘After the death of her father, her uncle and aunt invited her to go to Camaiore so as to distract her mind and
to restore her health. These our relatives were very good to the family and affectionate towards all, but
especially towards Gemma. Besides they were rich and wanted Gemma to make her permanent home with
them. One day her uncle said to her: "If you will remain with us I shall leave you as much money as I shall
leave my other niece who lives with us." To which Gemma demurred: "Oh no! I am going to be a nun.
However, if you will give me something for a dowry I shall be very grateful."’
Her cousin Luigi Bartelloni gave the following evidence concerning her conduct during her stay at Camaiore:
‘Every morning Gemma went with my sister Rosa to hear Mass and receive Holy Communion. Afterwards
they attended to their household duties and served in the drapery shop with my uncle until about twelve
o'clock. which was dinner time. After dinner, at about half-past twelve, they visited the Church called Badia,
where they remained in prayer until a quarter to two. They then returned to the shop until about six, when
they again went to pay a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. After the evening meal the family recited the Rosary
and other prayers together and then passed about a half an hour in conversation before all retired to their
rooms, and this was done with a method and a precision proper to my Uncle Dominic's home.
‘I have been referring until now to Gemma's external life. What I can say about her interior life is little, but it
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