BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

from all His wounds. I lowered my eyes immediately, and feeling very much disturbed I made the Sign of the
Cross. Great peace of mind followed, but I continued to experience intense sorrow for my sins. Lacking
courage I did not raise my eyes to look at Jesus. I bent down with my forehead upon the ground, and
remained in that position for several hours. . . . Then I recovered, but from that time I began to have a great
horror for sin, and this is the biggest grace that Jesus has granted me. The Wounds of Jesus remained so
that I have never since then forgotten them.’ [Autobiographia, pp. 56, 57, 58]
Such was the impression that Jesus, covered with blood, made upon her that she determined to Him with all
her heart, no matter what the cost. At the same time there arose in her heart the desire, to suffer for Him
Who had suffered so much for her. And Gemma's resolutions were no mere idle words.
On the following day, Good Friday, Gemma, after spending the whole day, no doubt, in union with Jesus in
His Passion, wished to take part in the devotions of the Three Hours Agony, but being unable to obtain
permission, she decided to go through the devotions privately in her own room.
She herself tells us what happened in that short space of time:
‘It was the first time, and the first Friday that Jesus made Himself felt so strongly in my soul. Although I had
not received Holy Communion-because it was impossible-from the hands of a priest, Jesus Himself came to
me and communicated Himself to me. So intimate was this union that I remained lost in amazement. Oh how
forcibly did Jesus speak to my soul! [Autobiographia, p. 60]
In the days before Gemma's entry into the Convent, Jesus often spoke to her. According to her own words '
Jesus in His infinite goodness was not ashamed to humble Himself'2 and become her teacher. And what
were the teachings of this sublime Master? One April evening when Gemma was alone in her room Jesus
Crucified appeared and pointing to His open Wounds, said: 'Look, My daughter, and learn how to love! This
Cross, these thorns, these nails, these bruises, these scars, these wounds, this blood-these are the effects
of an infinite love! See to what extent I have loved thee! Do You really desire to love Me? Learn how to suffer
first-suffering will teach thee how to love.' [Autobiographia, p. 65]
At this awful sight Gemma swooned, but there was then enkindled in her heart a burning fire of love that
would never be extinguished.
WITH THE VISITANDINE RELIGIOUS
At last the long expected day arrived. On May 1, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Gemma entered the
Convent. To her it seemed like going to Heaven. A course of spiritual exercises was being given at the time,
and Gemma, in order to take part in them with great recollection, told her family that she did not wish to be
visited.
To tell the truth, if Gemma was ardently desirous of becoming a Visitandine, the nuns on their side were just
as anxious to have her among them. They had heard about her virtues, and they knew that she had been
miraculously cured through the intercession of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. In the hope that this miracle
would hasten the canonization of their Sister, they looked forward to hearing from Gemma's own lips an
account of her cure .. To facilitate her entrance into their order they were willing to dispense with the usual
dowry, being satisfied with the great fund of virtue with which her soul was endowed.
At the Convent Gemma was treated with every care, one might say with veneration. Exceptions to the
general rule were made for her. She had not to attend the exercises of the retreat like the other externs, but
was allowed to follow the regular observance of the Community. Even the Superior displayed her esteem
and made Gemma sit beside her in the refectory, and during the day often called her aside to speak to her.
During all this time the Lord was pouring His grace and consolation more abundantly in Gemma's heart.
'Jesus in spite of my misery,' she wrote:
‘I consoled me and made Himself continually felt within my soul.'
But Gemma was not altogether satisfied. The life of the Visitation nuns, she felt, was not for her. She had
need of a more austere mode of life. But where would she go? Would she not have to return to the world in
order to find another religious order more in keeping with her desires-to the world that was now so far away?
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