Saint gemma galgani biography of michael
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SAINT GEMMA GALGANI
(1878-1903)
A VISITOR to the ancient city of Lucca, in the opening years of this century, strolling along the Via Zecca might have chanced on a strangely unedifying scene. A young girl of striking beauty was modestly making her way homewards with downcast eyes from one of the city churches. She was rather dowdily dressed, with battered hat of black straw, rusty black gown and mantle, and a little crucifix on her breast. A number of small boys were playing on the street as she passed. Suddenly they swarmed round the girl, tugging roughly at her clothing, shouting insults and words of derision, while some of the bolder even spat in her face. She showed no sign of resentment and, when some passers-by rescued her, went her way with a quiet word of thanks. It was not the first time her unconscious oddity of dress and manner had attracted the unwelcome attention of the street urchins of Lucca. But the only comment she was ever heard to make was in a whisper to her fr
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NIHIL OBSTAT: EDUARDUS J. MAHONEY, S.Th.D., Censor deputatus.
IMPRIMATUR: JOSEPH BUTT, Vic. Gen.
In obedience to the decrees of Urban VIII, and to the Apostolic Constitution ' Officiorum' of Leo XIII, we declare that we claim no authority for what is written in this book other than that which is purely human and historical.
[Webmasters note: Of all the books on St Gemma in english, this is the one that I personally most treasure, first and foremost because it is extremely well written, with lots of unique and original information on the holy life of Saint Gemma that is not availible in other books in english, but also because the english version of this book is so rare! After literally several years of searching on the world wide web for a copy of this book in English, I was
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Galgani, Gemma, St.
Italian mystic; b. Borgo Nuovo di Camigliano, nära Lucca, Italy, March 12, 1878; d. Lucca, April 11, 1903. She was born of pious parents, Enrico and Aurelia (Landi) Galgani, and was educated by the Sisters of St. Zita, whose foundress, Bl. Elena guerra, was one of her teachers. Her mother died in 1886. Her father's death (1896) left her in extreme poverty. Her remaining years were spent in the large household of Matteo Giannini in Lucca. Serious recurring illnesses, which plagued her from childhood, prevented her from joining the Passionist nuns. From her early years she meditated on Christ's sufferings. Gemma had visions of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and her guardian angel; she experienced stigmatization and other physical phenomena of Christ's Passion, such as the sweat of blood, scourging, and the crowning with thorns. At times she was disturbed bygd diabolical manifestations, but her life was for the most part retired and quiet. She was a model of humility,