BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

manifests her sanctity. First of all she fulfilled with exactness, generosity and delicacy all her duties, not only
towards her uncle and aunt and cousins, but also towards the domestic, Alessandrina Valsuani, and all
others. Serving in the shop with her uncle and her cousin, as I have said, she had plenty of opportunity for
gossiping, but she avoided the temptation by retiring to one of the upper rooms. Towards all she showed
charity, respect, tolerance and politeness. Sometimes she acted as peacemaker, especially between my
uncle and Alessandrina Valsuani ... whom she often assisted in her duties. I believe, nay, I am certain that
Gemma and my sister were often so recollected in prayer when in the shop that my uncle had to reprove
them. Gemma used to try very hard to reconcile my father and grandmother, whom worldly interests had
estranged. '
The picture is so well drawn, and therefore we could not refrain from giving Bartelloni's evidence in its
entirety, so that the reader might miss none of the perfume of Gemma's charity in her dealings with her
neighbor. Further details from the recollections of other witnesses in the Processes bring into clearer light her
conduct during this short interlude in her short life.
Alessandrina Valsuani when called upon to give evidence still retained the sweet impressions which
Gemma's attitude had left with her. ' Poor Gemma! ' she said. 'Many times after I had shown her some
kindness or other she said to me: "If I cannot reward you in this life for all you have done for me I shall
reward you when I am dead." And indeed I feel that Gemma has kept her promise and thought of me. . . .
She ate very little and never made any complaint or remarked upon the food that was provided, so much so
that her aunt sometimes looked after Gemma's food herself, in the hope of inducing her to eat or drink a little
more. . . . Gemma was equally indifferent to what was pleasing or displeasing to her; she never asked for
anything, or desired that we should make any effort in regard to her nourishment.'
According to her cousin Luigi Bartelloni, Gemma and his sister spent nearly the whole of every Sunday and
feast day in prayer in the Church. He never once heard her speak of frivolous things. , In a word,' he
concluded, ' Gemma possessed and practiced all the virtues in an extraordinary manner -a heroic manner. It
can be said that there was something divine about her.'
A SEVERE JUDGEMENT OF HERSELF
Very different is the account of herself which Gemma gives in her Autobiography which-it must not be
forgotten--she intended to be what she called 'the book of her sins.' 'My aunt had another niece staying with
her,' she wrote, ' and we became friends. In getting into mischief we were equally proficient. Our aunt told us
to go out alone together, and I see clearly now that if Jesus had not had pity on my weakness, I should have
fallen into grave sins, for the love of the world was slowly taking possession of my heart.' But who was this
niece with whom Gemma declared herself to have been a competitor in mischief? Why did she speak so
severely about herself?
The young girl mentioned by Gemma was the sister of Luigi Bartelloni whose evidence has been given
above. Certainly from what he reported it would be very difficult to see anything wrong in their conduct. We
know, however, that the saints are severe judges of themselves and their actions.
Rosa Bartelloni was an angelic creature, of the same age as Gemma and like her in many respects. When
Gemma died, Rosa wept indeed, but also rejoiced because--she said--she knew her heart's friend was in
Heaven and would think of her. She herself was always in delicate health and died a holy death in 1918.
Luigi and Rosa were the grandchildren of Dominic Lencioni whose daughter their father had married. On her
death, however, their father married Carola Galgani, Enrico Galgani's sister.
A few more details will be added so as to understand more clearly the severity of Gemma's self judgment.
Gemma had always edified the Camaiore household by her many virtues, and her return each year was
keenly anticipated. Her stay there is well remembered even to-day. 'Nearly every morning she could be seen
praying in an attitude of the greatest recollection, yet without affectation. The way she was dressed, almost
like a nun, attracted one's attention. Besides the Collegiata, she used also to attend the Badia where her
confessor, Canon Dominic Masini, was stationed, being then in charge of that venerable Sanctuary. . . .
There are many who remember finding Gemma Galgani kneeling before the altar of the Pieta, and leaving
her there. Sandrina Maggi, then Valsuani, formerly a domestic servant at the Lencioni home, and one who
was in Gemma's confidence, declared that Gemma often told her that when kneeling before the Pieta she
experienced a great and almost irresistible feeling of love for the Passion of Jesus Christ and the sorrows of
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