BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

elations with anybody. This wise prelate, being far from decided in his mind about Gemma, had divided his
responsibility, and had sent his holy penitent, now to one confessor, now to another, in the hope of finding
help in the direction of this soul that was so dear to him. He did this because his many occupations, and
above all his humility, had made him consider that the burden of direction was too heavy for him.
When therefore he heard from Gemma of Father Germanus, he should not have found it difficult to secure
information about him, either from the Gianninis or from the Passionists themselves, with one of whom he
had already conferred several times. At all events Monsignor agreed in the end to get into touch with Father
Germanus, and allowed Gemma to write to him.
Her first letter, a long one consisting of twelve pages, dated January 29, 1900, was written with that sincerity
and candor which characterized everything she did. She mentions the permission she had received, her cure
through the intercession of St. Gabriel, her vocation, and the future foundation of the Passionist Nuns in
Lucca. This letter reached Father Germanus together with another from Cecilia Giannini in which she asked
him to give Gemma's letter every consideration. A few days later he received another letter from Gemma in
which she said candidly that Jesus had spoken to her: ' My daughter, write to the Father,' this was the
message she received, ' and tell him that your confessor is willing to get into touch with him. Let him do so,
because this is My desire .... This is My will that your confessor refer everything to the Father henceforward.'
Monsignor Volpi, being in Rome about this time, endeavored to meet Father Germanus, but failed. He
therefore wrote to him. Cecilia Giannini was more fortunate, and was able to meet him in Rome and speak to
him about Gemma.
At all events the letters of Father Germanus did not at first evince much enthusiasm for Gemma, nor did they
reassure Monsignor Volpi. 'On principle, and because of a long experience in the ministry, I find it difficult to
give credence to extraordinary things in women,' Father Germanus declared in the Processes, and therefore
he advised Monsignor to pay no attention to them and to make his penitent follow the common path. Later on
he suggested to him that he should forbid her formally to watch at night, or to practise austerities or to give
herself up to contemplative thoughts, and that he should command her to avoid everything out of the
ordinary and to occupy herself assiduously in suitable but distracting work. Father Germanus even went so
far in his opposition to Gemma as to advise Monsignor to exorcise his penitent.
Realizing that this correspondence was achieving no result, Monsignor Volpi asked the Father Provincial to
send Father Germanus to Lucca in order to examine Gemma. In the beginning of September Father
Germanus arrived at the Gianninis'. It is easy to see that his sentiments in regard to Gemma were not unlike
those which animated the doctor who made his famous experiment a year before. Nevertheless as God had
won over Father Peter Paul to Gemma's cause, so also in that same place He would win over Father
Germanus.
As soon as she saw him Gemma recognized him and rejoiced, for she immediately recognized him as the
one whom she had seen in ecstasy. On his side Father Germanus experienced a sentiment of veneration
towards her which he could not explain. They retired to pray before the big family Crucifix, and they both
wept, but nothing further happened then. That evening during supper-it was a 'Thursday-Gemma, feeling the
ecstasy coming on, got up from table and retired to her room. In a little while she was in ecstasy.
STRUGGLING WITH DIVINE JUSTICE
Here we think it best to give Father Germanus's account of what happened by quoting from his biography of
Gemma:
‘Her adopted mother [Cecilia Giannini] came to call me. I followed her and found the maiden in ecstasy. The
subject of the ecstasy was the conversion of a sinner, and the form was a struggle between her and the
Divine Justice to obtain this conversion. I confess that I never beheld anything more affecting. Gemma was
sitting on her bed with her eyes, face and all her person turned towards a part of the room where Our Lord
appeared to her. She was not agitated but earnest and resolute like one in a struggle, who is determined to
win at all costs. She began by saying: " As You art here, Jesus, I renew my supplications for my sinner. He is
Thy child and my brother; save him, Jesus"; and she named him. He was a stranger whom she had known in
Lucca, and moved by spiritual impulse she had already warned him a number of times by word of mouth and
by letter to listen to the dictates of his conscience and not be contented with the mere reputation of being a
good Christian. Jesus, seeming disposed to deal as a just Judge with this man, remained unmoved by her
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