BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

This vision refers to Gemma's religious vocation, and to the proposed establishment of the Passionist nuns
at Lucca. Gemma did recover her health, but the foundation of the Convent being delayed, she got sick
again and died.
The second vision is, to use the words of a very devout writer, ‘simply exquisite.' [La Madre mia, G.
Schryvers, C. SS. R., Marietti, Torino Roma, 3rd ed.,p. 82.] We shall describe it in Gemma's own words:
‘Who ever would have imagined that my heavenly Mother would come to see me? I myself did not dare to
expect it, because I believed my wicked conduct was too great an obstacle. But she had pity on me, and
after I had been interiorly recollected for a little while, there happened what often happens, I was rapt out of
myself and then, I found myself, it seems to me, before our Lady of Sorrows. What an abundance of joy I
then felt within my heart! Explain it who can! I t appeared to me that after a few moments of great emotion,
she took me on her lap, and making me lean my head upon her shoulder, held me in that position for some
time. My heart was full of contentment; I felt I was in want of nothing. "Am I the only one you love? " she
asked me from time to time. "Oh, no," I answered, "I love another person more than thee." "And who is it ? "
she said, pretending not to know. "It is somebody who is very dear to me, dearer than anything else in the
world. I love this person so much that I would even give my life for Him this instant." "But tell me who he is?"
she asked again. "If You wert here yesterday evening," I replied, " You wouldst have seen Him with me. But
He does not come often enough. I go to Him every day, and I should go oftener, if I could. But do You know,
Mom, why He- acts like that? It is because He wants to see whether I shall sti11love Him when He is far
away. But the farther He is away, the more my heart longs for Him." "Tell me who He is," she repeated. "No, I
shall not tell thee His name. But He is beautiful and like unto thee, and His hair is the same color as Thine."
And then it seemed to me that my Mother caressed me, saying: "But, my child, whom do you mean?" "Do
You not understand?" I exclaimed. "I mean Jesus, I am speaking of Jesus," and I repeated it more earnestly.
She smiled at me and pressing me to her, said: "Love Him indeed ; love Him with all your heart; but love Him
alone." " Never fear," I said to her, " no one in this world will ever share my affections; they belong to Jesus
alone." She caressed me again, and I thought she kissed me on the forehead. Then I awoke, that is, I came
out of the ecstasy, and I found myself stretched on the floor with the Crucifix near me.' [Diario, September 1,
1900.]
‘YOU BELONGEST ENTIRELY TO ME'
Gemma's love for Jesus was directed in a singular way towards the Blessed Sacrament. We do not intend to
repeat here what we have already said about this subject. It can be summed up- in one phrase. The
Eucharist, Holy Communion, was Gemma's life, and her adorations were for the most part one continual
ecstasy. The fire of Divine Love enclosed in the Eucharist, darted out and touched her heart, burning her so
deeply at times that she was compelled to run away from that Divine Presence. The other marvelous effects
produced in Gemma by the reception of Holy Communion, we have also touched upon. During the period
already referred to when she subsisted on Holy Communion alone, except for an occasional drink of water,
that is, from Pentecost to the end of June, 1902, any food she took through obedience, was immediately
thrown up again, often accompanied with blood. Nevertheless, Gemma enjoyed the very best health during
this time. However, at the end of that month she heard Jesus say: 'From now on I shall no longer sustain
you,' and from that hour the prodigy ceased. She began to eat again, even more than before, according to
Cecilia Giannini. But, nevertheless, she commenced to waste away visibly from that time until her death.
Here we shall set down some of Gemma's transports of love towards Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: , 0
Jesus, my only good, I am full of hunger for the Bread of life; I am athirst for Thy most precious Blood.'
‘I love a life of Faith, and I will repeat a thousand times that I prefer to receive Thee than to see Thee. But,
tell me, 0 Lord, how am I to please Thee? Communicate to me Thy light, and Thy divine ardors.'
‘How sweet a thing it is, 0 Jesus, to receive Thee in Holy Communion! What consolation there is enclosed
within Thy heart! Let me dwell there, oh Jesus, my only treasure . . . in Thy embrace I wish to die.'
‘It is almost a fortunate thing for me that I was born a sinner, for the veins of my Jesus are always open,
ready to pour out that most precious Blood.' , It is possible that after receiving Thee, even once, all should
not become enamored of Thee? '
‘Yes, 0 Jesus, there are happy moments on earth . . . 0 Jesus, Paradise of Charity, prodigy of Love! I am full
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