St. Gemma Galgani was born on 12 March 1878 in a small Tuscan village near Lucca, Italy. Her father, Enrico, a chemist, was an extremely good man. Gemma did not have for long the care and love of her mother, Aurelia, a very holy woman, as she died in 1886. When she made her First Holy Communion at 9, Gemma was unable to express what passed in that moment of intimacy between her soul and Almighty God. Gemma loved solitude and was always most reserved in talking. At age 16, Galgani developed spinal meningitis but recovered through the intercession of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Margaret Marie Alacoque. One day, after she had received Holy Communion, Our Lord said to her: "Gemma, I expect you on Calvary, that Mount towards which you have been led."
On the vigil of the Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1899, supported by her Guardian Angel with whom she conversed frequently and Our Blessed Lady, Gemma received from Jesus the sacred stigmata, which recurred every Thursday evening and lasted until Friday afternoon. She frequently experienced various phenomena associated with the Passion, such as sweating blood, being scourged, and crowned with thorns. Additionally, she regularly had ecstasies, received visions, and had revelations. St. Gemma Galgani said, "I am not at rest, nor shall I be, until Jesus has enkindled a little of his love in me!"
Gemma was also blessed with the gift of prophecy and supernatural knowledge. The fame of her sanctity soon spread abroad, and many favors were obtained through her prayers. In January 1903, Gemma was diagnosed with tuberculosis. At the start of Holy Week in 1903, Gemma began suffering greatly. She died at age 25 on Holy Saturday, 11 April. St. Gemma Galgani was canonized on 2 May 1940, only 37 years after her death, by Pope Pius XII. She is the patron saint of Students, Pharmacists, Paratroopers, and Parachutists, those who lost parents, those suffering back injury or back pain, those suffering from headaches or migraines, those struggling with temptations to impurity, and those seeking purity of heart.
Prayer composed by St. Gemma Galgani to obtain a desired grace:
Behold me at Your most holy feet, O dear Jesus, to manifest to you my gratitude for the continual favors which You have bestowed upon me and still wish to bestow upon me. As many times as I have invoked You, O Jesus, You have made me content; I have often had recourse to You, and You have always consoled me. How shall I express myself to You, dear Jesus? I thank you! Yet one more grace I desire of You, O my God if it would be pleasing to You (here mention your request). If you were not omnipotent, I would not make this request. O Jesus, have pity on me. May your most holy will be done in all things.
Prayer to St. Gemma
St. Gemma, you radiated angelic innocence and embodied a seraphic love in your soul. You bore the marks of our Lord's Passion in your flesh as a testament to your profound devotion. Obtain for us the grace to emulate your love for Jesus by remaining faithful despite struggles and persevering in our pursuit of holiness throughout our lives.
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
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