BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

not the child of prayer-the fulfillment of a long desire to have a daughter? The knowledge that her health was
being undermined by tuberculosis, and that her days were numbered, made Aurelia even more affectionate
towards Gemma, who years later wrote in her Autobiography: ' I remember that when I was very small my
mother often took me in her arms, and many times in doing so, she wept. "I prayed so long that Jesus might
send me a daughter," she said to me. " He has consoled me, it is true, but too late. I am sick and I must die
and leave you." , '
In the face of death Aurelia sought comfort in prayer and until the end did her utmost to fulfill her duties
towards her children. When oppressed with fever, even when wearing plasters to relieve her cough, she rose
very early to go to Holy Communion. Every Saturday she brought her children to the Church and prepared
them there herself for the Sacrament of Penance. Their frequent presence in the Church was noticed by the
Parish Priest, Don Raphael Cianetti, who afterwards described Gemma as ' a silent child whose demeanor
edified all who saw her.'
Sometimes this holy woman, emulating the mother of St. Paul of the Cross, the Founder of the Passionists,
would take her daughter on to her lap and pointing to the Crucifix would speak to her of the sufferings of
Jesus. 'Look, Gemma, this good Jesus has died on the Cross for us !' It was a scene that must have filled the
Angels with admiration. Gemma drank in eagerly the story of the Passion. Looking now at the Crucifix, now
at her mother, she used to say: 'Tell me more, Mom, tell me more.' Often when Aurelia was busy in the house
she felt her dress plucked and heard Gemma's pleading voice: 'Mom, speak to me for a little while about
Jesus.'
But the disease that was consuming Aurelia was making implacable progress. The coming separation from
her seven children who needed her so much, added to her sufferings. The thought of leaving Gemma pained
her most of all. 'Gemma,' she said to her one day, ' if you were able, would you come with me to the place to
which Jesus is calling me ? ' Where? ' asked Gemma. 'To Paradise with Jesus and the Angels.' This
invitation filled Gemma with joy and an indefinable yearning. With an ingenuousness that was her constant
characteristic she wrote sixteen years. later: 'I t was Mom who made me as a child long to go to Heaven. And
now,' she added, alluding to a prohibition that she must not ask God to let her die, ' if I still desire Heaven
and want to go there, there is almost an outcry.' So anxious indeed was the child Gemma to go to Heaven
that she was loath to leave her mother's side lest she might flyaway without her.
THE FIRST SACRIFICE
But Aurelia could not take Gemma with her to Heaven, so she directed all her thoughts towards the child's
spiritual future. To whom was she to entrust her soul? To the Holy Ghost, concluded Aurelia. At once she
began to complete her religious instruction in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which Gemma
received from Archbishop Nicholas Ghilardi, on May 26, 1885, in the Basilica of St. Michael in Foro.
At the end of the ceremony Gemma assisted at a Mass of Thanksgiving. The Holy Ghost Who had found her
soul so well disposed for His gifts, willed to ask of this child of scarcely seven years the greatest sacrifice she
could make. 'I was assisting as best I could,' wrote Gemma in her Autobiography, 'and praying for Mom,
when on a sudden a voice in my heart said to me: "Are you willing to give me your mother?" "Yes," I replied,"
if you take me also!" "No," said the voice, " give me your mother of your own will. For the present you must
remain with your father. I will take you to her in Heaven later." I had to say yes, and when the Mass was
finished I ran home.'
This constitutes the first celestial conversation to occur in the life of Blessed Gemma Galgani. It is also the
first in a long chain of sacrifices which God was to demand of this generous soul. Her life was to be a
succession of pains and sufferings, which were to be for her the key that opened the treasures of God's
grace.
Gemma arrived home to find her mother almost at the point of death, and on seeing her she burst into tears
and wept unrestrainedly. She could not tear herself away from the bed. She had indeed made the sacrifice,
but she could not help wishing to go to heaven with her.
The imminent danger of death passed, but only for a short time, and within four months Aurelia was dead.
Gemma was not present at the end. The story of the last days is told in the processes by Elisa Galgani:
'Gemma had the misfortune to lose her mother when she was seven years of age. Although only a child she
tried to assist her sick mother as best she could and did not want to be separated from her. Sometimes she
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