BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

Crucifix and upon the picture of the Blessed Virgin, and I remember that one day she caught hold of the
rosary from my cincture and broke it into bits. However, I must say this, that at such times neither I nor any of
those who saw her, ever perceived in her even the least act against good morals. She never uttered words
except, as I learned from Signora Cecilia, to say: "Go away, go away! " when the latter drew near to her.
When I offered her any sacred object, she used the same words to me. I exorcised her, but without result the
first time, since although she became calm after half an hour, the assaults were renewed. The second time I
used the exorcisms she remained calm, and then I gave her a relic of the Holy Cross to put on and ordered
her to ask Jesus to free her from those attacks of the Devil. From that moment she was left entirely free.'
Gemma wanted to keep this relic, and Monsignor Moreschini consenting, she put it round her neck and kept
it there always. After her death it was given to her friend, Euphemia, who afterwards became Mother
Gemma.
One must not be surprised on reading of this incident. 'Possession is not an absolute evil,' says Saudreau,
summing up the teaching of theologians and mystics. 'Sin alone is a true evil. Possession is, for the afflicted
one, a terrible suffering, but a suffering that can be for the greater good of a soul which will be glad and thank
God for it throughout all eternity. More frequently it is a trial and not a chastisement. God at times permits the
most innocent and holiest persons to undergo this severe trial. [I fatti straordinari della vita spirituale, 1908,
pp, 353-354]
SATANIC RAGE
But perhaps the apparitions which afflicted Gemma most were those in which the unclean spirit took filthy
and shameless forms in order to try and obscure the candor of her soul. It was because of one of these
assaults that, as previously mentioned, she plunged, in the middle of winter, into a cistern of icy water. It was
a famous bath, as she herself called it afterwards, which certainly would have caused her death if she had
not been rescued by an invisible hand.
And it was not only satanic jealousy of the rapid strides Gemma was making along the road to sanctity that
was the cause of the persecutions she had to undergo. This hate was increased still more on account of her
zeal for the salvation of souls. Since nothing ever made her desist from an apostolate in which, as we shall
see, her particular mission consisted, the Devil intensified his attacks. Jesus warned His Servant and she
told Father Germanus about it thus: 'After Communion two days ago, Jesus said: "My child, the demon is
preparing to make violent war upon you." And these words He made me hear every moment in my heart.-"
Pray." -Who will be the victor, the Devil or my soul? Oh, how this thought afflicts me! How will this war be
decided?' On this warning there followed a threat: 'War, war, upon your soul!' These words resounded in her
ears for several days. Father Germanus was also included in this threat, and shortly afterwards the first
attack was made.
Upon undertaking the direction of Gemma's soul, Father Germanus had commanded her to write down the
history of her past life, on the pretext of knowing her sins better, but in reality to obtain an account of the
marvels which God had secretly worked in her soul. To overcome her objections, this was to be called a
general confession. Even here she experienced great repugnance, because she thought that Father
Germanus would be scandalized on coming to know her sins, and would pay no more attention to her soul.
But again obedience won the day.
Gemma set to work and wrote about a hundred pages, in which she artfully did her best to hide the abundant
gifts which God had showered upon her, by the confession .of sins with which she declared she had spoiled
them. However, contrary to her wishes, she succeeded in writing an admirable autobiography. This humble
but glorious confession excited the rage of the Devil. As he had sought to prevent its being written, so he
tried to put obstacles in the course of the work, appearing to her in visible form and saying: ' Well done, well
done, write away. I t is all my work. Where can you hide yourself now?' But Gemma continued and finished
her task.
But the Devil would not give up the struggle and endeavored to get rid of the pages that were such a cause
of confusion to him. The general confession, or we should say, the autobiography, was given, by Father
Germanus's directions, to Aunt Cecilia, who then waited for a favorable opportunity of sending it to him. But
one day the manuscript which she had put under lock and key disappeared and could not be found. The
Devil himself had taken it, as he made known to Gemma. She wrote to Father Germanus:
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