BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

Hitherto, Gemma's path in life had been a thorny one, but worse still was to come. Her ardent desire to
become like Jesus Crucified, which until now had so filled her heart, was to be satisfied in a manner
permitted to only a few of the greatest saints in the Church of God. She was to become the living image of
Jesus Crucified, and to receive in her flesh the mark of His Wounds. The sublime, generous prayer she was
to utter later on in ecstasy, revealing the ardent aspiration of her life, was granted. , When my lips shall draw
near to Thine to kiss Thee, make me taste the bitterness of Thy chalice. When my shoulders shall rest upon
Thine, make me feel the scourges. When Thy flesh shall be com-municated to mine, make me share in Thy
Passion. When my head shall lean upon Thine, make me know the pain of the thorns. When my side shall be
near Thine, make me feel the lance.' [Lettere ed estasi, p. 213.]
That morning, therefore, Jesus made it understood that He desired to meet His spouse on Calvary, and for
that reason made her feel in her heart that she was to receive that evening a most extraordinary grace.
Gemma did not understand clearly what this grace was to be, but nevertheless she went to confession and
obtained a general absolution for her sins, and so put herself in a right disposition to receive the gift of God.
The evening came. Before she began the Holy Hour, an intense sorrow for her sins took possession of her.
Of what occurred then it is best to give her own touching account :
THE MARKS OF JESUS
'It was in the evening. Suddenly I began to feel a great interior sorrow for my sins, so great indeed that I had
never experienced anything like it before. That sorrow, I might say, almost brought me to death's door. Then I
felt all the powers of my soul in recollection. One thought alone possessed my understanding -the thought of
all the transgressions by which I had offended God; my memory brought them all before me, and at the same
time I recalled all the torments which Jesus endured for my salvation; my will detested all my sins, and I
promised that I would bear all possible sufferings to atone for them. Then one thought rapidly succeeded
another in my mind -thoughts of sorrow, love, fear, hope and consolation. This recollection was quickly
followed by a great rapture. I found myself in the presence of my heavenly Mother, with my guardian Angel
on her right. He bade me recite an act of contrition, and when I had finished my loving Mother addressed me
in these words: "Daughter, in the name of Jesus, let all thy sins be forgiven." Then she added: "Jesus my
Son loves thee much, and wishes to confer a favour on thee. Canst You render thyself worthy of it ?" My
nothingness knew not what to answer. Whereupon she continued: "I will be a Mother to thee; will You show
thyself a true daughter of mine? " She then opened her mantle and covered me with it. The same instant
Jesus appeared with all His Wounds open, but instead of Blood, flames as it were of fire issued from them. In
an instant those flames touched my hands, feet and heart. I felt as if I were dying, and had not my heavenly
Mother supported me, under her mantle, I should have fallen to the floor. I remained in that position for
several hours. . . . When I came to, I found myself kneeling upon the floor. I still felt intense pain in my hands,
feet and heart. As I arose to lie down on my bed I became aware that blood was flowing from those parts
where I felt pain. I covered them as well as I could, and, assisted by my Guardian Angel, I succeeded in
reaching my bed.' [Autobiographia, pp. 76-78.]
Gemma had so often prayed that she might be made like unto Jesus. She wished to be nailed to the Cross
with Him, a prayer which later on she was heard to utter when in ecstasy: '0 Cross ! is there no place for me
at the side of Jesus.' Her ardent desire is now satisfied. In her virginal flesh she bears the wounds of her
Divine Spouse. Now she can say with St. Paul the Apostle: 'I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.'
From now on, she is to become more and more like unto her Crucified God.
GREAT SUFFERINGS ARE FORETOLD
During this same month of June, after Gemma had made the Holy Hour, Jesus revealed to her all the
humiliations and sorrows she would have to undergo in the course of the few years that yet remained to her
on earth. The following is Gemma's account of what was then disclosed :
‘After the Holy Hour Jesus made me understand all that I would have to suffer during the rest of my life. He
said that He, would soon test me to see if I truly loved Him and whether the offering I had made to Him was
sincere. He told me that He would know this when my heart would appear to have become like a rock ; when
I should experience nothing but aridity of spirit and be afflicted and tempted; when all my senses would rebel
and would become like so many hungry wild beasts. He told me that my fidelity would be shown when I felt
myself inclined to evil, when the pleasures of the world appear to be worth while and memory would recall to
mind what I did not desire; when what is contrary to God's law would perforce present itself to me and it
would seem that I had lost all relish for the things of God. He said that He would not allow my heart to taste
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