CHAPTER XX

Gemma’s Guardian Angel of Assistance

ONE OF the most consoling dogmas of Holy Faith is that of the assistance of the Angels. After the fall, man had need in his misery and weakness of being specially helped and protected, in order to attain the end for which he was created. And God in His love, wishing to give him assistance, deputed for this purpose the ministering spirits of His heavenly court. He accordingly assigned one of these holy spirits, rightly called “our good angels” to each one of us.

They take us by the hand on our first entrance into life and never leave us while life lasts. “Behold,” says the Lord, “I will send My Angel, who will go before thee, and guard thee is thy way, and introduce thee into the land that I have prepared for thee.” But while God loves all men He takes special care of some and ordains degrees of preference according to their merit. Hence it happens that in each one the kindly mission of the Angels may differ greatly.

Thus Gemma having been destined by God to an exalted place among the elect, it followed that the Angel assigned her by heaven should take special care of her. Divine grace willed to manifest itself towards Gemma in extraordinary ways and if we had not in the Sacred Scriptures the touching story of Tobias, and in Christian Hagiology instances of angelic intercourse with many canonized Saints, one would be tempted to doubt much of what have to say in this connection about this favored Servant of God.

She was well prepared to treat with Angels by her many striking virtues; they were innocence, purity, candor, childlike simplicity, and at the same time a most lively faith that enabled her to see, as it were without veil, the sublimest heavenly truths. Her holy Guardian must have found in his consoling charge something partaking of the angelic nature, which enabled him to hold familiar communication with her.

What assuredly will be thought most singular in this angelic communication is what I may call the sensitive as well as the constant presence of the Angel. Gemma saw him with her eyes, touched him with her hand as if he were a being of this world, remained talking with him as one friend would with another. “Jesus,” she said, “has not left me alone; He makes my guardian angel stay with me always.”

She thanked God most earnestly for this benefit, and also declared her deep gratitude to the Angel. “If I am sometimes culpable, dear Angel,” she said to him, “don’t be angry with me, I wish to be grateful to thee.”

And the Angel to her: “Yes I shall be thy guide and inseparable companion. Do you not know who it is that gave me charge of thee? It is the merciful Jesus.”

At this the angelic girl unable to restrain her emotion, stood rapt in ecstasy with her Angel. What happened then is told by Gemma herself in the following simple words: “We both remained with Jesus. Oh! father, if you also had been there!” And for her to remain with Jesus meant being engulfed mind and heart in the immense abyss of God’s Divinity, there to behold and hear and learn secret things.

As a rule during those intimate meetings, a considerable time was spent in praying together and offering praise to the Most High. The Angels according to a holy Doctor, delight in assisting the Saints while they pray; and the Archangel Raphael assured the elder Tobias that, while he prayed, he himself was offering those prayers to the Lord. Now as Gemma all day and during a great part of the night was intent on prayer, and that with great ardor of faith and extraordinary devotion, must not the Angel of the Lord have greatly rejoiced thereat? He let her see him sometimes raised in the air with outspread wings, and his hands extended over her or else joined in attitude of prayer.

At other times he knelt beside her. If they were reciting vocal prayers or psalms, they did so alternately; if aspirations or ejaculatory prayers, “they rivaled one another” (these are Gemma’s words) “as to which would say them more emphatically! Viva Gesu! and Blessed be Jesus or such-like beautiful words ; and Jesus showed His pleasure at it.” When it was the time of meditation the Angel inspired her with sublime ideas and moved her affections so that the result of the holy exercise might be perfect. And as the subject of these meditations was, for the most part, the Passion of Our Lord, the Angel, like a good master, laid open its profound mysteries to her soul.

“Look,” he would exclaim, “at what Jesus has suffered for men; consider one by one these wounds; it is Love that has opened them all. See how execrable sin is, since to expiate it, so much pain and so much love have been necessary.” These and other such exquisite reflections, like rays of light and fire, went straight to the heart of the fervent child.

I myself have many times assisted at these meditations of Gemma with her angel, and from what I beheld in her exterior only I could vouch for what I have stated, even if she herself had not repeated it to me in the account she gave me of it after the meditation. I remarked moreover that every time she raised her eyes to look at the Angel, listen to him, or speak to him, even out of the time of meditation and prayer, she lost the use of her senses; and during those moments one could prick, burn, or shake her without her feeling it.

As soon however as she turned her eyes from him or ceased to speak with him, she immediately came to herself; and if this was frequently repeated, even within a short space of time, the same phenomenon of alienation from her senses was as frequently renewed. I wish to emphasize this fact now, although later on I shall have to speak more at length of the ecstasies of the servant of God. My object is to remove at once any idea that this intimate dealing with the Angel can be attributed to any delusive fantasy. The same thing happened to her while walking in the street, seated at table, working in the kitchen; always and everywhere the Angel was ready to show himself, and Gemma was ready to receive him. In her exterior nothing remarkable was to be seen except the superhuman brilliancy of her eyes. She remained immovable and it was only when she was touched that it became evident that she was in converse with beings of the other world.

Very often, as has already been shown by examples, those interviews were of the most simple and sociable kind, and so great was her familiarity with the holy Angel, that its parallel can only be found in that of the Archangel Raphael with young Tobias. “Tell me, my Angel,” these are her words, “what was the matter this morning with the Confessor who was so very serious that he would not listen to me? And will the father write to me from Rome, and when, in answer to the letter I wrote him, asking him how I should act in a certain case? And that sinner for whom I am striving, tell me dear Angel, when will Jesus convert him for me? And what answer should I give that person who has come to ask my advice? And what do you think of me: is Jesus contented with me, or what must I do to keep Him so?”

And similar things, all bearing on spiritual matters, for nothing else was thought of. The Angel with ineffable condescension adapted himself to such child-like candor, answering all her questions, and the result invariably showed that the answers were given by a celestial spirit. I have such a quantity of information on this subject (i.e., Gemma’s angelic communication) that it would fill one volume, and another volume might be filled with proofs of the credibility of such extraordinary things against the blind assertions of modern rationalism.

The Angel Guardian was to Gemma, so to say, as a second Jesus. She made known to him her own wants and those of others. In her sufferings she wished to have him always by her side. She charged him to lay several matters before the throne of God, before the Divine Mother and her Patron Saints, giving him also letters closed and sealed, for them, with a request to bring her back the answers in time, and those letters, as a matter of fact, disappeared.

Oh, how many steps and measures did I not take to ascertain if such an extraordinary fact had really happened through supernatural intervention. Yet every one of my efforts convinced me that in this, as in many other extraordinary events, heaven, so to say, had willed to play with this simple and divinely favored girl. But when she sent her holy Angel on any special errand to someone in this world, as often happened, great was her surprise if she was not answered. “And yet,” she wrote to me, “so many days have passed since I sent the Angel to tell you of it; how is it that you have not done anything. At least you could have let me know through the Angel that you did not intend to act in the matter.

At all events don’t be vexed, if I write again to insist; it is a very serious matter. It was thus she kept the heavenly messenger continually on the move, and he most gladly favored her. Even without being invoked he hastened to her in every seed and danger. He restrained the power and malicious artifice of the devil who on all occasions seemed quite as vigilant in his efforts to do her harm.

Instances are not wanting of this blessed Guardian’s constant watchfulness. Once when Gemma was at table with the family one of those present did not hesitate to blaspheme the Holy Name of God. She no sooner heard him than horrorstricken she fainted, and falling would have dashed her head against the ground had not the Angel hastened to her aid.

He took her hand, sustained her, and with a word only restored her. At another time when she had remained to a late hour in church without noticing it, because engaged with Jesus, the Angel came to call her and taking charge of her accompanied her visibly to her home. She had once been cruelly beaten by the devil during her evening prayer, and being unable to move, the Angel coming lifted her to her bed and there stood watching by her pillow. At other times he was at hand to warn and advise her, so that she might not fail to use the necessary precautions. The most important mission of the Angel with Gemma was in what concerned her spiritual advancement. Thus while on one side he acted as her watchful guide, on the other she found in him a perfect master of Christian perfection. He lost no opportunity of admonishing, instructing and directing her in lessons of heavenly wisdom that Gemma herself has preserved to us in the manifestations she made from time to time to her spiritual father. Nay, once, in order that a syllable might not be lost, the holy Angel wished her to write word for word what he said. Having told her to take pen and paper, he standing and she seated before him at her desk, like a child at school writing at the dictation of a teacher, he thus began:

“Remember child, that one who truly loves Jesus, speaks little and endures much. I command thee on the part of Jesus never to give thy opinion unless it is asked; never to maintain thy opinion, but be silent at once. When you hast committed any fault accuse thyself of it at once without waiting for others to do so. Punctual obedience, without reply to thy Confessor, and to others when he enjoins it; also sincerity with him and with them. Remember to guard thine eyes and reflect that the mortified eye shall behold the beauties of heaven.”

When needful the holy Guardian knew how to show severity. She one day told me of this in the following words:

“My Angel is a little severe; but I am glad of it. During the past days he brought me to order as often as three or four times a day.”

And indeed sometimes it almost appeared as if he had gone too far:

“Yesterday while at table”—it is Gemma who is speaking—“I raised my eyes and saw the Angel looking at me with a severity that would frighten one. Later when I went to rest a little, O my God, how angry he was I looked at him, but lowered my eyes immediately. Art you not ashamed, he said, to commit faults in my presence? He cast such severe looks at me! And I did nothing but cry and recommend myself to my God and to my Blessed Mother, that they might take me away, because I could not bear it much longer. Every now and then he repeated: I am ashamed of thee. I prayed also that others might not see him so angry; for if they did no one would come near me. I suffered a whole day and could not recollect myself; I had not courage to say a word to him, for whenever I raised my eyes he was looking at me with severity. I should have so liked to ask pardon, but when he is angry there is no chance of his granting it.

Yesterday evening I found it impossible to go to sleep, and alt last about two o’clock I saw him approach; he put his hand on my forehead saying, Sleep my poor child, and disappeared? It is impossible to explain the great fruit this holy child derived from such angelic teaching. She was attentive to every word that was said, and with great joy did the many penances that were given her by the Angel. She once wrote to me as follows:

“I felt great repugnance to the obedience he gave me as a penance, to go and say certain things to the Confessor; but you know, father, I obeyed, doing myself violence, and went early in the morning to give the message. In this way I overcame myself, and the Angel has been greatly pleased, and has come back to his kind way with me.” Gemma seeing the great charity lavished on her, loved her Angel immensely, and his name was always on her tongue as well as in her heart. “Dear Angel,” she would say, “I so love you!”

“And why?” he asked.

“Because you teach me to be good, and to keep humble, and to please Jesus.”

What wonder then that love so strong in a soul, so simple and ingenuous, should lead to a familiarity that sometimes seemed almost excessive? To hear her speaking with her dear Angel, it seemed as though she were almost treating with an equal, going so far as to contend with him earnestly in order that he might yield to her wishes. I myself in the beginning wondered greatly at it, and warned her against it. Nay I went so far as to accuse her of pride, because instead of trembling before the heavenly messenger she treated him with such familiarity; and in order to try her virtue I ended by forbidding her, when treating with him, to exceed certain defined limits. Gemma hung her head and with all humility answered: “You are quite right, father, I won’t do it any more. From this day forward, I will always use the right terms when speaking to the Angel, and I will show him every reverence, and keep at a respectful distance when I am allowed to see him.”

And she kept her promise while the prohibition lasted, although in the proper terms of address she often got confused, and corrected herself even when in ecstasy. As soon as she saw the Angel she explained everything to him with perfect freedom. “We must have patience, dear Angel; father wishes it, so I must change my way.” On one occasion having a scruple she wrote about it to her spiritual father as follows:

“The holy Angel tried my patience; I did not want him in the least, and yet he wished to speak to me of several things; then I said to him: Holy Angel, listen to me; go away, because I don’t know how to act. In a word I explained myself.

“He then said: What do you fear?

“To disobey, I answered.

“And he: No, because I am sent by Him Who has power to send me.

“Then I let him talk. If I have done wrong forgive me: I won’t listen any more to the Angel.”

It happened also occasionally that her holy Guardian appeared to her with other Angels in order—let me put it so—to keep joyous company with their angelic sister. As soon as I knew of it I showed my disapproval, having the same object in view, and said to her that this must end. Now hear her reply:

“Indeed, father, I understand very little about it all. Others when they pray see their Angel. But if I see mine you scold and are displeased. At any rate yesterday—that was their Feast day—I told them all to go away. Mine however did not go, nor did that other whom you know of. Now, what am I to do? Don’t get angry again; I will be good and will obey; and you must not get put out any more.”

I will add particulars of two other apparitions, among many, and so end this chapter. “I was in bed,” she writes, “suffering greatly, when on a sudden I became absorbed in prayer; I joined my hands and moved with heartfelt sorrow for my countless sins, I made an act of deep contrition. My mind was wholly plunged in this abyss of crime against my God, when I beheld my Angel standing by my bed. I felt ashamed of being in his presence; he instead was more than courteous with me, and said, kindly: Jesus loves thee greatly; love Him greatly in return.

“Then he added: Art you fond of Jesus’ Mother? Salute her very often for she values such attention very much, and unfailingly returns the salutation offered her; and if you do not feel this, know that thus she makes a proof of thy unfailing trust. He then blessed me and disappeared.”

Here the reader has an idea of the kind of intimacy that existed between Gemma and her Angel; so simple, spontaneous and full of profound humility. The other apparition was very similar, but I must not omit it. “The Angel Guardian, while I was making my evening prayer, came near and touched me on the shoulder saying: Gemma, why such great distaste for prayer?

“No, I answered, it is not distaste; I have not been well for two days. And he added: Do thy part assiduously and Jesus, you wilt see, wilt love thee still more.

“I begged of him to ask Jesus for leave to pass the night by me. He disappeared at once, and when he got leave from Jesus to stay he returned. Oh! he was so kind, and when he was about to go I besought him not to leave me yet; but he said: I must go.

“Go then, I replied, and salute Jesus for me.

“He gave a last look at me and said: It is my wish that thy conversation be no longer with creatures; when you do wish to speak, speak with Jesus, and with thy Angel.”

Of this kind are almost all the apparitions of which Gemma has given an account, or that have been gathered from what she said while in ecstasy. Hence it is easy to form an idea of how dear to God this young girl must have been when found quite worthy to be thus visited, helped and guided by His holy Angels.