BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

up, her hands joined with fingers interlacing, and her eyes either wide open or half closed. I never saw her
raised above the earth. She was so absolutely without movement as to seem rigid. She never blinked, even
when hands were moved rapidly in front of her eyes, which were always like glass, or when a lighted candle
was held close to them. They were fixed upon the Crucifix, if there was one, or towards a point where it
seemed the person stood with whom she was in communication. Whilst she was in this state Gemma
appeared not to participate in or even to hear our conversation, and I am certain she did not hear what was
said. We spoke in a low voice, it is true, but our words were quite audible, and if she had not been in ecstasy
she could have heard us and even seen us.'
From the deposition of Joseph Giannini, Matthew's son, we take the following particulars:
‘When she was in ecstasy she sat in an easy chair with her head raised slightly and resting on the back of
the chair. Her body seemed like a laid-out corpse, but her legs were gathered in under the chair and
completely covered by her dress. Her hands were motionless, or at least I do not remember ever to have
seen them move. The chair was a comfortable one, with a rather long seat and a high back, so that she
could lie down almost at full length upon it.
‘. . . The impression she gave me was that of a dead person, but nevertheless she used to speak, and had,
as I myself have seen, her eyes open, and raised towards Heaven. Although they were fixed and never
blinked, they were alive and seemed to see something or someone invisible to us .... Her body rested
peacefully. There was no discharge of saliva from her lips, no clenching of teeth, nor any convulsive motion. I
never touched her, but my Aunt told me that her body always had the usual warmth. My Aunt never
massaged her, or applied perfumed spirits or hot foments. She told me that in her ecstasies there were no
convulsive movements, that on the contrary she was most peaceful, just as if she was asleep. She used to
speak in her ecstasies, but in a voice that was scarcely audible, being always in conversation with the
Blessed Virgin or our Divine Lord. Gemma's countenance often changed its expression, according to the
subject of the conversation, or the answers she received. Sometimes she was very pale; sometimes very
flushed.'
The deposition of Mother Gemma Giannini is substantially the same. She also records that on one occasion
she took Cecilia Giannini's place near Gemma. She saw two luminous rays reflected in her eyes, and felt
that Jesus, to Whom Gemma was speaking, was close by, and fell down upon her knees. This was also the
effect which others experienced when present at Gemma's ecstasies. Thus the priest Agrimonti often
assisted at them on his knees and in tears.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GENUINE ECSTASIES
Taking into consideration Gemma's entire life, we must conclude that the ecstasies described in the
Processes were divine in origin. Many things point to this: her great fear of deceiving or of being deceived;
the progress she made in virtue after these extraordinary manifestations, especially in humility, charity and
obedience; her perfect tranquility of mind on every occasion; the judgment of learned men who saw them
and who have left sworn testimonies concerning them. And these are the criteria laid down by theologians for
the discernment of true from false ecstasies, visions and similar phenomena.
As regards the exercise of the above-mentioned virtues, we have already said enough to dispense us from
enlarging upon them further. However, it is delightful to read that a command from one who had the right to
her obedience was sufficient to awake her from her ecstasy. When Gemma was asked to explain this, she
answered: 'Jesus said to me:
"You must go.'" And that ended matters.
Concerning Gemma's humility we shall add one fact. A nun who disapproved of her conduct and of all the
extraordinary things that happened to her, exhorted her openly to change her mode of life and think more
seriously of her spiritual welfare. Had Gemma been less humble than she was, she would certainly have
resented this advice. However, this is how she wrote of this matter to Father Germanus :
‘There is a certain good religious here, who from time to time sends me a few affectionate words. She likes
me very much, and from her words I gather that she also knows me well. Yes, Father, she knows me well.
But you do not know me. You are mistaken, for the things that happen do not come from God, but from the
Devil. Pray to Jesus for me; for light, for light, Father. It is all false devotion. I see it all only too well; it is all
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