BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

‘It is some time since I began to think that Jesus was inspiring me to ask of Him a certain grace. I shall do
what you say; but I believe you will see that there will be no harm in permitting me to make the request. I feel
sure that you will have many objections to put forward; such as, that I have grown thin, that it is not
necessary; but they have no weight. Listen; do you agree that I ask Jesus to grant me the grace never again
to experience any taste in any food? Father, this grace is necessary for me. I hope Jesus will tell you to grant
it to me. However it be I shall be satisfied. '
Her Guardian Angel asked her for a proof of her love for Jesus, and this is how she sought from Father
Germanus an explanation of what this meant: , Yesterday at the end of my meditation, I was making as usual
resolutions to love Jesus with all my heart. "Well then," said my Angel, " we shall soon see whether you will
prove your resolutions." I told this to my confessor, but even he does not know to what he referred. Please
tell me if you know.'
And here is another example of her pleasing simplicity in speaking of sublime things. 'On Friday my
confessor asked me some questions about the mystery of the most Holy Trinity. I was very much confused.
But how well Jesus knew how to whisper in my ear! We were lost in wonder, humiliating ourselves before the
great majesty of God.'
The reasons she gives for the love God bestows upon her make even more manifest her inimitable
ingenuousness. She speaks as an orphan child might speak. 'He loves me; He loves me very much. He
loves me because I have neither father nor mother; He loves me because I am a poor creature, and, finally,
He loves me because I am so wicked, and in His sight the wicked are more welcome than the good.' The
reader will easily understand in what sense these last words must be taken.
PREY TO FEARS
But this ingenuous child reposing at peace in the arms of her heavenly Father was yet a prey to fear. She
was afraid of deceiving or of being deceived. Not that she feared she had given occasion for such deception.
She feared because others were afraid. , I doubt because the others doubt,' she said in an ecstasy to Jesus.
'If it be really You, Jesus, do please make Thyself clearly known. . . . We cannot go on this way, neither I nor
the confessor.'
To find peace of mind she opened up her difficulties to her director. We shall choose a few extracts here and
there. 'Father, I am afraid, very much afraid of losing my soul, because yesterday
I heard a priest who came to see the mother relate that there was a nun who had marks in her hands, her
feet, her head and heart, and who used to go into ecstasy, and that it was all a deception. Can it be, Father,
that I am a deceiver? If I am a deceiver I shall go to Hell. I should like you to explain to me what a deceiver
is, because I do not want to deceive anyone.' And when he was paying a visit to the Tomb of St. Gabriel, she
wrote to him: ' Act like this: Go to his tomb, to his body, and order him thus through obedience: " Tell me what
I am to do about Gemma?" And then when you come back you will write and tell me what he said, won't
you ?' On another occasion in similar circumstances, she wrote: ' The first thing you ought to do, Father, is to
place in his hands (St. Gabriel's) the important affair of my salvation; ask him whether I have any hope of
being saved, and not. to allow me to be deceived, nor allow my director to be deceived in guiding me in the
present manner.'
These fears sometimes caused her extreme torment. She wrote:
'This morning I was awake very early. Suddenly a multitude of thoughts such as these began to assail me : "
And if I was deceived ?if all the things that happen to me would but lead me to ruin-if my director was
deceived? " And this struggle lasted until, do you know what hour, Father? Until five o'clock. I do not know
where Jesus was; He did not speak even half a word to me. In the end He showed a little compassion, and
withdrawing my senses somewhat made me hear these words: "My daughter, do not fear. It is I who am
working in you. I shall never abandon you; live in peace of mind." Father, ask Jesus whether it was He or
another who spoke these words.'
Dear Gemma, your very fears constitute the best argument for the sincerity of your spirit and the authenticity
of your virtues!
DIVINE FAMILIARITY
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