Actually, the reason I put this together was because I had read her biography (written by her confessor/spiritual director) and it was the first time I *was* able to see Gemma's humanity.
Gemma was blessed with extraordinary supernatural graces and experiences that the vast majority of us are not. She also died young, and it seems that God purifies and sanctifies some souls at an incredibly fast pace, especially those who die young (this is my own opinion from reading so many biographies of saints; think St. Therese, St. Rose, St. Catherine). The process of being sanctified and drawn into the highest union with God is God's work on a soul, and our human part is to cooperate with our will. This is what Gemma did. God sanctified and purified her, bringing her into very close union with Him, and she corresponded to those graces with her free human will. It was her mother who first prepared her for a life of holiness, and Gemma responded to those graces.
She was also purified through intense suffering - losing her mother, losing her father, being plunged into a life of poverty... but she accepted every suffering as God's will and was completely resigned and abandoned to His will. That is the secret of sanctity - perfect conformity to God's will - that is how Gemma strived to live, and I think what makes her seem "not human."
She also enjoyed constant visions and conversations with her Guardian Angel, and was favored with speaking directly to Jesus Christ, not to mention sharing in His suffering through the experience of the stigmata every single Friday.
Between her angel and her conversations with Jesus, she knew God's will, and was able to conform to it. One example that comes to mind is when Gemma was gifted a beautiful piece of jewelry; she didn't really want to wear it, preferring to remain simple and unadorned, but she thought that it would be an act of kindness to the giver if she wore it. So, she wore it for one day -- but then Jesus made it known to her that she wasn't to wear it, so she saw it as an act of vanity and never wore it again.
She also didn't act on anything unless she had the permission of her spiritual director. She wrote him many letters seeking his advice and permission on even small details of her life (there is a book that is a collection of her letters). Her confessor would often tested her obedience with certain commands, and she was always docile and obedient, even when it wasn't easy for her. That was partly why I chose to describe her practice of virtues as "heroic," because it wasn't automatic, she did actually have to use her free will to choose to act virtuously, just as we all do.
Before I read this biography, I did struggle to see Gemma's humanity (and some parts of the biography are certainly difficult to relate to); however, it was through the biography that I finally did glimpse her humanity, and I thought I would take a few of those things and put them here. :)
Did Gemma have failings? I did detect some scrupulosity in her, as she constantly thought she was a horrible sinner, yet according to her confessor, she never committed a mortal sin in her life (many other saints are like that, including St. Therese). He even went so far as to say that she never committed a *deliberate* venial sin! Yet, she was constantly calling herself the worst of sinners.
This is a very high level of the spiritual life that is not impossible. It is the "unitive stage," in which a soul's will is perfectly conformed to God's will (as described by St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila). However, as St. Teresa (and many other doctors of the church) say, it would be impossible for a person to be entirely free from all venial sin. The difference is that they are not committed *on purpose.* Gemma probably had these little accidental and unintentional faults, but according to her spiritual director, she was very careful not to sin intentionally. She spoke to him about every little decision because she feared in acting on her own will. She wanted only to act out of obedience, so she sought his guidance in everything.
As to what happened to Gemma's siblings, I do not know! The biography did not follow up with them. I only know that the children were in the care of the two aunts who struggled to provide for them.
What happened to all of St. Gemma's siblings that had been in poverty when St. Gemma entered into the new house with the Giannini family?
Additionally, what were St. Gemma's fallings? How did she struggle? From this account, she seems to be almost not human.
I thought the summary otherwise charming and engaging. Pax tecum.
Thank you!
Actually, the reason I put this together was because I had read her biography (written by her confessor/spiritual director) and it was the first time I *was* able to see Gemma's humanity.
Gemma was blessed with extraordinary supernatural graces and experiences that the vast majority of us are not. She also died young, and it seems that God purifies and sanctifies some souls at an incredibly fast pace, especially those who die young (this is my own opinion from reading so many biographies of saints; think St. Therese, St. Rose, St. Catherine). The process of being sanctified and drawn into the highest union with God is God's work on a soul, and our human part is to cooperate with our will. This is what Gemma did. God sanctified and purified her, bringing her into very close union with Him, and she corresponded to those graces with her free human will. It was her mother who first prepared her for a life of holiness, and Gemma responded to those graces.
She was also purified through intense suffering - losing her mother, losing her father, being plunged into a life of poverty... but she accepted every suffering as God's will and was completely resigned and abandoned to His will. That is the secret of sanctity - perfect conformity to God's will - that is how Gemma strived to live, and I think what makes her seem "not human."
She also enjoyed constant visions and conversations with her Guardian Angel, and was favored with speaking directly to Jesus Christ, not to mention sharing in His suffering through the experience of the stigmata every single Friday.
Between her angel and her conversations with Jesus, she knew God's will, and was able to conform to it. One example that comes to mind is when Gemma was gifted a beautiful piece of jewelry; she didn't really want to wear it, preferring to remain simple and unadorned, but she thought that it would be an act of kindness to the giver if she wore it. So, she wore it for one day -- but then Jesus made it known to her that she wasn't to wear it, so she saw it as an act of vanity and never wore it again.
She also didn't act on anything unless she had the permission of her spiritual director. She wrote him many letters seeking his advice and permission on even small details of her life (there is a book that is a collection of her letters). Her confessor would often tested her obedience with certain commands, and she was always docile and obedient, even when it wasn't easy for her. That was partly why I chose to describe her practice of virtues as "heroic," because it wasn't automatic, she did actually have to use her free will to choose to act virtuously, just as we all do.
Before I read this biography, I did struggle to see Gemma's humanity (and some parts of the biography are certainly difficult to relate to); however, it was through the biography that I finally did glimpse her humanity, and I thought I would take a few of those things and put them here. :)
Did Gemma have failings? I did detect some scrupulosity in her, as she constantly thought she was a horrible sinner, yet according to her confessor, she never committed a mortal sin in her life (many other saints are like that, including St. Therese). He even went so far as to say that she never committed a *deliberate* venial sin! Yet, she was constantly calling herself the worst of sinners.
This is a very high level of the spiritual life that is not impossible. It is the "unitive stage," in which a soul's will is perfectly conformed to God's will (as described by St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila). However, as St. Teresa (and many other doctors of the church) say, it would be impossible for a person to be entirely free from all venial sin. The difference is that they are not committed *on purpose.* Gemma probably had these little accidental and unintentional faults, but according to her spiritual director, she was very careful not to sin intentionally. She spoke to him about every little decision because she feared in acting on her own will. She wanted only to act out of obedience, so she sought his guidance in everything.
As to what happened to Gemma's siblings, I do not know! The biography did not follow up with them. I only know that the children were in the care of the two aunts who struggled to provide for them.
Spectacular--thank you for following up!
St. Gemma, pray for us.
What a glorious saint! I did not know these things about her. St Gemma, pray for us.
This is beautiful! St. Gemma, pray for us!
Santa Gema Galgani prega per noi e aiuta noi in i tutti nostri speciali bisogni! Amen!
My sister bears the name of this lovely saint. Thank you for summarising her life.