BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

CHAPTER I
BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS
A day of rejoicing occurred on March 12, 1878, in the home of the chemist of Camigliano, a smiling village at
the foot of the blue Pizzorne near Lucca in Italy. Another child had come to gladden the hearts of Enrico
Galgani and Aurelia Landi, who already had three children. Three more children were yet to bless their
marriage, and therefore the child born in 1878 was to hold the middle place and to be as it were the heart of
the family.
Because they considered their children to be the gifts of God, these virtuous parents rejoiced at every new
birth. They had indeed every claim to be considered virtuous. Enrico on his mother's side was descended
from the family of Blessed John Leonardi, and his character harmonized with the sanctity of .the stock from
which he sprang. Aurelia, according to the witnesses whose evidence was taken during the processes for the
Beatification of her daughter, was a model mother and a saintly woman. From among many depositions
made concerning them, that of a priest, Francis Ghilardi, is very short and to the point: 'The Galgani family
occupied a good position in society, bore an exemplary character, and was most exact in the fulfillment of its
religious duties.' [All quotations unless otherwise stated are from the Summarium Proc, super virtutibus.]
The child was baptized the day after her birth by Don Peter Quilici, parish priest of Camigliano. There had
been a disagreement in the family about the name she should be given. A paternal uncle, a captain of the
army medical staff, wished her to be called Gemma. Her mother objected. The parish priest of Gragano, Don
Olivo Dinelli, was asked to settle the question. Aurelia explained to him why she was reluctant to agree to her
brother-in-law's suggestion. 'How can the child get to heaven,' she asked, 'if there is no saint of the name of
Gemma?' 'But,' replied the priest, 'there are gems in heaven, and let . us hope that she may become a gem
of Paradise.' So it was agreed to give the child the auspicious name of Gemma, to which were added Maria
Umberta Pia.
EARLY EDUCATION
A month after Gemma's birth the family moved to Lucca with a view to living there permanently. Guido, the
eldest child, explained that his father made this change of residence in order that he might the better attend
to the education and training of his children. The story of Gemma's first years is best told by her aunt, Elisa
Galgani, who figured prominently in her life, and who became a most important witness during the processes
for her Beatification :
‘Gemma passed her childhood and youth in her own home under the watchful eye of her parents. At three
years of age Gemma, together with her sisters and her very young brothers, was sent to a private school
conducted by some sisters named Vallini. No complaints were ever made regarding
Gemma, and her parents were assured that she was good and obedient. There she learned to say her
prayers and to do very simple knitting. She was removed- from this school after her mother's death when she
was seven. At this time she was always obedient and respectful to everyone and was never wayward. She
was plump and good-natured, so much so that she used to amuse my brother.
‘When she was about four she came to our home at Porcari for a few days to enjoy the country air. My
mother, in whose room Gemma slept in a little bed by herself, found her there one day on her knees, with
hands joined, before a picture of the Heart of Mary. She called my brother, the army doctor, saying: "Come
and see how Gemma prays," and together they watched her. "What are you doing, Gemma?" asked my
brother. Gemma answered: "Go away, please; I am saying the Hail Mary." As they retired my brother said: "If
I had a camera I would have taken her photograph! "’
Gemma's mother said morning and evening prayers daily with her children, and also taught the older ones to
make little meditations. On Sundays she took them to Mass and to the evening devotions in the parish
church. The children also went with her to the catechetical instructions for adults but she did not allow them
to attend the catechetical instruction for children, preferring to instruct them herself or to bring a teacher into
the house for that purpose. One of these teachers, Isabella Bastiani, made the following deposition in the
processes:
‘The Galgani’s wanted someone to look after the sick and take charge of the children. My stepmother,
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