BIOGRAPHY of ST GEMMA GALGANI - Get a Free Blog

Lord, to die a victim of Thy love, a victim for Thee! '
As was truthfully written over her tomb, Gemma did indeed die a victim of divine love, for she was consumed
by its flames rather than by the violence of her disease.
CHAPTER XXI
HER MISSION –A HOLOCAUST FOR SINNERS
To the words just recorded and as a complement to the glorious epitaph inscribed on the marble over the
tomb of Blessed Gemma there should be added 'Virgo altare Christi,' words so often found in the Catacombs
over the last resting-place of the Christian virgins. This wonderful title, by which the Fathers of the Church
frequently honored these Christian Virgins, belongs also to Blessed Gemma. For her life was one long
sacrifice- a sacrifice which, united to that of the Divine Martyr, became the fruitful cause of the salvation of
many souls.' [G. Petazzi, S.J., La mistica sete nel cuore d'un apostolo e d'una vergine. Milan, Tip. S.
Giuseppe, 1909.]
This beneficent mission which occupied, one may say, every day of her short life was apparent to those
amongst whom she lived, and they testified to it in the Processes for her Beatification. 'She acted as a
missionary of good to all,' said Sister M. Agnes, Prioress of the' Mantellate' Nuns at Lucca. 'It was one of
Gemma's characteristics to pray for poor sinners,' declared Canon Andreuccetti, and Sister M. Julia of St.
Joseph attested that Gemma's life was devoted to the expiation of sin. Gemma's friend, Palmira Valentini,
expressed herself with regard to this matter thus: 'Gemma was much afflicted by the thought of the sins
which were being committed, and she often offered herself to God on behalf of sinners. This was a special
characteristic of hers.' 'She would have liked to go throughout the world,' continued the Superior of the
Sisters at Lucca, 'everywhere preaching the Faith of Jesus, and promoting the spread of His Kingdom by
converting pagans, heretics and sinners.' 'She desired to propagate the Faith, and convert sinners,' said
Marianna Bianchini, ' and for the latter she suffered willingly, and did penance.' Another witness, Signora
Thecla Natali, confirms what has been mentioned above, and added: 'She strove to get others to do the
same.' The Franciscan, Father Gentile Pardini, whose emphatic depositions we have often quoted in the
course of this work, declared: 'The sins of mankind, and the insult these offences offered to Jesus, were an
acute and continual source of suffering to Gemma, and she therefore prayed for sinners and did penance for
them as far as she was able.' And he added: 'Her zeal for the glory of God was so great that she would have
given her blood, all her blood, for the good of souls.'
VICTIM FOR SINNERS –VICTIM SOUL
Gemma did more than merely desire to give her blood for the salvation of souls ; she actually gave it. The
reader will remember the copious blood she shed in her ecstasies when she participated in the sufferings of
the Passion, her sweat of blood when she heard blasphemies. For a whole month during which she was
praying for priests, she shed tears of blood. And all this blood was offered for the welfare of souls.
We should like to record here all the wonderful ecstasies in which she struggled with the Justice of God for
the salvation of sinners, offering herself generously as a victim of expiation for their sins. 'What do You wish,
oh Jesus?' She once was heard to say in ecstasy. 'Do You think that I am waiting until You ask me for my
life? It is Thine. . . . I have already offered it to Thee. Will You be pleased if I offer it to Thee again, as a victim
in expiation for my sins and those of sinners? Act at once. . . . My life is in Thy hands, it is Thine . . . it is
Thine. If I had a hundred lives I should give every one of them to Thee, but I have only one! I am ready for
everything. Does it seem to Thee that in asking for my life You art asking me to make a sacrifice? I t is a
favour You do bestow upon me.' 'Do grant my desire, I she prayed on another occasion. 'It is not befitting that
You should suffer, but I am here, strike me. Think of sinners. Do You know who has forbidden me to think of
sinners. The Devil. ... Think of poor sinners, 0 Jesus, I recommend them to Thee. Teach me what I should do
in order to save them.' [Quotations in this and following chapters, are taken here and there from the “Lettere
ed estasi”]
As He had done before once for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus opened His Heart for Gemma, and with
the thought of sinners in her mind, she ran to it. 'What art You doing, 0 Jesus? After so many other things, do
You now open Thy Heart for me? Oh, if only all sinners would come to Thy Heart. Come, sinners, do not fear!
The sword of Justice will not reach you there. But, o Jesus, why is Thy Heart, the best and holiest of all
hearts, so tormented ?' The sight of the Sacred Heart so inflamed her with love that she exclaimed: , Oh,
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