BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

visited her family or the Zitine Sisters she was with my sister, or another member of the family went with her.
She was a source of edification to my sons and daughters, who held her in great esteem, as did also my wife
and even the servants. People thought it extraordinary that we should keep her in our home. They called her
stupid because she never spoke to them. She dressed in a humble fashion, kept her eyes lowered and was
always recollected, and never took part in the children's games. She used to go with my sister to the Rosa
church and also to that of S. Martino, which was nearer. She often went to Santa Maria Bianca, which was
our parish church, and to a few other churches on special feast days. They went out early, in winter from
half-past six to seven o'clock, and in summer from six o'clock to half-past six. I have said they heard two
Masses, that is, when there were two. Otherwise they spent that time in private prayers ; Gemma was never
idle. We had a piano and the children played and sang, but not Gemma. Towards the end of her life I learned
with surprise that she understood music and could sing, and embroider. I do not know exactly whether she
could play the piano.'
Aunt Cecilia confirms and completes this deposition of her brother:
‘Before Gemma came to reside permanently at our. house, for some months I used to call for her at her
home, and frequently I found that she had gone to church, for she assisted at Mass and went to Holy
Communion daily, then and afterwards, except on one or two mornings when through indisposition she could
not go .... At first she used to work at crocheting, but she preferred knitting or mending stockings, because, I
believe, it enabled her to keep more recollected. And she worked constantly, for she looked after the
stockings of the entire household. She did whatever there was to do. H the need arose she put the rooms in
order or helped the children with their lessons. Although she could not cook, she sometimes lit the kitchen
fire. She was always humble, obedient, calm and silent ... .'
The eldest boy of the family, Joseph, who became a lawyer, deposed that although no particular work was
assigned to her in the house, she helped everyone gracefully and without ostentation. 'She taught the little
children,' he continued, ' without, however, undertaking the more delicate tasks reserved to others. Her
demeanor was always such that she was an edification to us all.'
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Gemma should have won the love and esteem not only of the
family, but also of strangers who visited the house. In regard to this matter Signora Justina deposed:
'As regards the esteem in which she was held in the house I can say that I never saw her commit the
slightest fault. All the others in the house had the same opinion of her. For instance, when I told my eldest
boy that I was afraid that I had cancer in the stomach, he said to me: "Did not Gemma tell you that you
hadn't, and why don't you believe her? " Even visitors came to hold her in high regard.'
The evidence of many witnesses is summed up in the words of Brother Famiano of the Heart of Jesus, a
Passionist whose work often brought him to the house: 'She was like an angel, she spoke only when she
was addressed. When she had finished eating she retired immediately from the table. The whole household
regarded her as a soul that belonged entirely to Jesus.'
The one who, above all others, rejoiced in having Gemma in the house, was, it is needless to say, Cecilia
Giannini, who at a certain time every day used to retire, saying: 'Now let me enjoy my Gemma.' And then she
and Gemma would go into the courtyard at the back of the house or into a little room where they would work
and talk about Jesus. These were precious hours in which Cecilia Giannini endeavored by innocent artifice to
make Gemma reveal her intimate secrets-secrets that otherwise would have remained hidden. 'With
Gemma,' said Cecilia, ' I was at rest. Merely to see her near me made me feel more recollected, more
patient, more able to bear the weight of fatigue, and the bitterness of my troubles. What an account I should
have had to render to God if I had not appreciated the gift He had bestowed in giving me this angelic
creature, and if I had not reaped some profit for my soul through it! '
In spite, however, of the esteem in which Gemma was held and the confidence reposed in her, she never
forgot that she did not belong to the family, and regulated her conduct with admirable delicacy and prudence.
Never by any word or act did she cause the least disturbance in the family. She never meddled in affairs that
did not concern her, or discussed the domestic arrangements. When visitors came to the house she slipped
away unobtrusively, and it was this reserve and silence which made them think she was stupid. Canon
Andreuccetti, seeing her on one occasion retire on his arrival, asked the reason why, and was told that it was
her usual practice on such occasions. She acted in the same way even with Doctor Tommasi, whom she
knew well.
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