BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

efore. she was convinced that Gemma was a privileged creature, and she thanked God from her heart that
she had an Angel such as Gemma for a companion.
MORE THAN A MERE GUEST, A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
But the family after spending the summer months at Viareggio, S. Casciano di Controne and other places,
now returned to Lucca, and Cecilia Giannini was wondering what she ought to do. Was she to be deprived of
the companion from whom she had received such spiritual good? Must she send Gemma back to suffer in
her home? She took courage and said to her brother: 'God has placed this angel in my care. Could she not
remain with us ? We have eleven children in the house; one more will not matter.'
This last remark was not really made in order to introduce a total stranger into the family permanently. They
also knew that Gemma's mother had died of consumption. Was it prudent to bring her into contact with
healthy children? But no one . knows what hearts filled with the charity of Christ may venture. God willed it
so, anyway, and no one can go against the will of God. Matthew Giannini was most agreeable, and so was
his wife and all the children, and the priest named Laurence Agrimonti who, holding a benefice at the
Cathedral, lived with the family. Even the domestic staff was pleased, a thing rare enough, and all the more
remarkable in this case because Gemma was coming not as a servant but as a member of the family.
Aunt Cecilia, having been so readily granted what she desired, went at once to Gemma's home. Her aunts,
who in spite of what had occurred really loved Gemma, hesitated a little before giving their consent. Their
realization of the poverty of the family, and the fact that such unusual things were happening to Gemma,
things they could not understand, caused them to yield at least in part. They consented to allow Gemma to
spend half her time at the Gianninis' and declared that she had to spend the other half at home. Finally in
September, 1900, they gave their full consent, and Gemma then took up her residence permanently with the
Gianninis, and never left them, except for a few days before her death, and then on the doctor's advice.
Gemma's brother deposed in the Processes that she never visited her home again except on a few
occasions to visit her Aunt Elisa. But the latter came to see Gemma more frequently at the Giannini home.
WITH THE 'MANTELLATES'
The first months Gemma passed outside her own home were spent between Aunt Cecilia and the ,
Mantellate ' .nuns who are known in Lucca as 'Suorine.' A deposition of one of these nuns, Sister M. Julia of
St. Joseph, declares that Gemma was with them from August, 1899, to March or April, 1900. This is what she
says:
'I know that Monsignor Volpi, through Signora Cecilia Giannini, was looking for some means of getting
Gemma away from her home, in order that when in ecstasy she might not be observed by strangers. I know
for a fact that Gemma was once found rapt out of her senses and that she had to be carried to her room. . . .
Signora Cecilia Giannini would have liked to have taken her immediately to her own home, but decided
against it because there were so many little children in the family, and she therefore asked us to keep her in
the Convent, on the understanding that she would afterwards repay us for what we spent on her. We readily
consented. And Gemma then began to frequent our parlours, the little church and the rooms next the
sacristy. Gemma came to us in the month of August, 1899, it seems, and remained until March or April,
1900.'
The words ' it seems ' are italicized because there is a doubt whether these dates are correct. Here is the
deposition on the same subject made by the Superior at that time, Sister M. Agnes Galli:
'I believe Gemma began to frequent our Convent here when she had been miraculously cured. As I have
said, she came here every day, presented and recommended to us by Signora Cecilia Giannini. The reason
why Gemma was sent here by Signora Giannini was this : to be able to be alone with Jesus and to pray at
her ease and as long as she liked. We welcomed her because we knew from Signora Giannini that she was
good-a holy soul she called her. She came here after she had finished at home, or in the church, at about
half-past eight. We gave her coffee with milk and a little bread because she said she did not want much, and
she took the coffee in the parlor near the front door. Afterwards she went through the sacristy to the priest's
room. For the midday meal she took very little, some soup, a piece of something else, and on a rare
occasion a little wine, which she never asked for, but took only when I pressed her to do so. She passed the
whole time between breakfast and dinner in our little church, except for a short time spent in holy
conversation . . . or in knitting stockings for Signora Cecilia Giannini. After dinner she returned to the church
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