CHAPTER XXXI

Extraordinary Devotion of the Faithful to Gemma and FRUITS Thereof

IT DID not seem likely that Gemma Galgani after her death would be held in remembrance by the Faithful in general. Her life had been so hidden that she was scarcely known outside her adopted home. But Our Lord has said that He will exalt the humble, and His words cannot fail.

When Gemma and the wonderful happenings of her life seemed to have lapsed into oblivion, the report of her sanctity spread abroad; and while in her lifetime no one seemed to notice her, now on all sides one heard loud praise of her great virtues. Many have chosen her as a particular advocate before God, and invoke her protection in their spiritual and temporal needs.

They come in pilgrimage from Rome and other distant provinces to pray at her tomb in the cemetery of Lucca, and the graces that many declare they have received through her intercession strengthen more and more their confidence in her. The result is, that as the reports of these graces received spread abroad earnest requests come from all parts for some little thing which once had belonged to the Servant of God, to be used as a remedy for infirmities of soul and body; just as is done with the relics of Saints.

On this account before closing the story of this Servant of God’s Life it remains to treat of two things:

FIRST, of the devotion of the Faithful to Gemma’s memory, and SECONDLY, of the marvelous graces that God is pleased to bestow on many through her intercession.

Among the Saints that are held in honor by the Church we know of very few who immediately after their death were so venerated by the Faithful far and near as the humble Virgin of Lucca. Persons who had not known her while living, or had no opportunity of hearing her mentioned, came to know her through reading the first edition of her life published late in 1907.

This Life, though written in unpretending style and by an inexperienced hand, attracted attention, was eagerly sought for, and in about two months the first edition was out of print. The second edition, three times more voluminous than the first, was impatiently awaited. Within two years a sixth edition was printed and over 23,000 copies have been disposed of.

Most certainly God has willed through those roughly drawn lines to inspire readers with an affection for His faithful Servant; for it is noticeable that almost all who have read Gemma Galgani’s Life cease not to bless God for having adorned His Church with such a precious gem in these calamitous times. Her fame has spread far and wide, and requests are continually coming to the editor from all parts of the World for permission to translate and publish her life.

I will quote the words of a few among many authoritative persons who have written to me on the subject:

And first of all the reigning Pontiff Pius X, having read this Life, deputed the Cardinal Secretary of State to write to the Author as follows: The Holy Father has charged me to make known to you the great pleasure he derived from reading the book in which you display a deep knowledge of mystic Theology and describe the riches of extraordinary graces that our Lord poured so abundantly into the soul of that innocent maiden. The August Pontiff trusts that by reading this Life hearts may become more inflamed with that love of the supernatural which the enemies of the Faith strive to obliterate.

CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL

Still more emphatic words of admiration of the humble Gemma were written to me by many Cardinals, Bishops and exalted Prelates among the Secular and Regular Clergy, as well as by distinguished laymen—and this particularly from Rome where the merit of things is so carefully weighed. But outside Rome, similar expressions have come from Florence, Genoa, Turin, Milan, and almost every province in the Peninsula.

Those letters, each dictated by the desire to manifest its writer’s sentiments of devotion to the Servant of God, were like the voices of many in one harmonious choir.

The much regretted Bishop of Fiesole in Tuscany, Mgr. Camilli, wrote thus: “I have just finished the Biography of the young Servant of God Gemma Galgani, and I don’t know how to tell you what I have thought and experienced in my poor heart while reading it. That angelic figure has appeared to me in all her splendor. Her profound humility, her rare and generous obedience, her dove-like simplicity; her ardent charity towards God and towards her neighbor in general, and towards sinners in particular; her ineffable pains, her martyrdom of soul and body; all, in a word, has illuminated my mind, all has gone down into my heart, and in tears I have thanked our Lord, that a lily so beautiful and so sweet has grown and flowered in our midst. . . . Oh! may Jesus Crucified soon glorify on the earth His Angelic Spouse who wished, to die—with Him on the Cross. I have begun to invoke her; but I beg of you, Father, help me to obtain her protection, and send me, if you can, something of hers for my devotion.” Another reverend holy Prelate of the Florentine Province wrote as follows:

“You cannot imagine with what great spiritual joy I am reading the biography of the holy Virgin of Lucca, Gemma

Galgani. I desire to make the dear Saint known here. Send me therefore thirty copies of her Life. Since I began to read it I have begun to entertain a strong hope that through her intercession I shall obtain from Jesus more abundant graces for the sanctification of my soul and the fulfillment of my duties.”

A most worthy Priest of Lucca who had the consolation of knowing Gemma intimately writes in his turn:

“The Biography of Gemma Galgani is a treasure for me.

You can imagine with what desire and devotion I read it, seeing again as I do so in my presence that admirable girl whom our God in His infinite Mercy has given to the people of Lucca. . . . Oh that God would grant me the grace to join my poor voice with those who will have the enviable lot of preaching Gemma’s panegyric when she is raised to the Altar!”

“What a fragrant air of Paradise one breathes,” wrote another Priest who was Gemma’s Confessor in her childhood,” while reading the precious Life of Gemma in the midst of the deadly atmosphere of this perverse world! How many charming and treasured memories it recalls to my mind, of the time when she and her; family lived in my parish, when for a short time I was her spiritual director as well as her saintly mother’s. I believe that this Life written so conscientiously will do great good, specially to devout souls.”

One of the most illustrious preachers in Italy expressed the inmost feelings of his heart towards Gemma in an affecting but rather long letter. I feel sure however that my readers will be glad to read his very word:

“Some very spiritual persons,” he says, “spoke to me with enthusiasm of Gemma Galgani whose Life they were reading, and marveled that I did not know of it. Distracted by other thoughts I paid little attention to what they said, and did not care to obtain it. Three months later I saw the book in the hands of a Priest who spoke in the same enthusiastic terms of the heroine of Lucca. Then, whether through curiosity or for other motives, I resolved to look through the Life. On reading the first pages, I, who hitherto had never found any pleasure in reading the lives of the Saints, began to experience an unusual heartfelt emotion. Contrary to my natural habit when reading any book, as soon as the noble figure of Gemma came before me in a picture drawn in simple and attractive lines, I felt a need to hasten and devour, as it were, in one effort what I held in my hands; and thus hastening and devouring what was before me I reached the end, but only to be inspired with a still greater desire to read it again. The whole world seemed to have gone out of my mind; I saw nothing but the unsullied soul of that Angel in human form, covered with the wounds of Jesus Crucified, adorned with supernatural and celestial gifts that are seen distributed among other Saints.

I heard the voice of a child speaking with her Angel Guardian, with the Blessed Virgin, with Jesus, in the same way that a little girl would speak to her brother, to her loving mother, to her affectionate father. In reading the lives of the Saints repeated quotations and long passages from their letters had always produced in me a sense of distaste and weariness. In this Life of Gemma on the contrary I should have been glad if she had been always allowed to speak, and if the Author, instead of making an apology, had given her discourse in full. And not finding in this book as much as I wanted, I sought out those who had known the Servant of God and asked them to tell me something more about her.

“And if others wish to know whence comes this my ardent devotion to Gemma, I answer candidly that it springs from the salutary effects that my soul has experienced through her. God has willed to make use of Gemma to crown His Divine Mercies in my regard, arousing me from my tepidity, detaching me from all and everything, enabling me to work for Him and in Him only.

“In a word, on the appearance of this virgin before my eyes, a real transformation has been wrought in my soul. And I should be ungrateful if I did not confess it openly. Every hour of the day, in all my occupations, I see before me this child of Heaven encouraging, advising, and reproving me who am—an unworthy Priest. And when I am wanting, how ashamed I feel to find myself before her! ‘Pardon, pardon, O Gemma; enable me, I beseech thee, to correspond to the mission that God has given thee, for the salvation of my poor soul.’ From these facts and from what I have heard from others, I feel convinced that the holy Virgin of Lucca is destined by Heaven to excite a holy emulation throughout the world specially among the young, and thus kindle in them the fervor of a truly Christian and perfect life”

“I am thankful to God,” writes a Priest from Leghorn, “and glad to tell you that devotion to the Servant of God, Gemma Galgani, has been taken up here with great fervor by all who have come to know of her. Her Life is read in the Refectory of some Monasteries, and I have distributed pictures of her to the clergy of the Cathedral and to the Professors and Students of the Seminary—all have them.

“Some Parish Priests are asking for copies of her Life and pictures, and are making her known to their parishioners. Very many sick people and others, wanting graces, are anxiously looking for pictures; it is indeed evident that Our Lord wills to make known this most humble Virgin of Lucca to all Leghorn.”

“On reading Gemma’s Life,” remarks a worthy Canon of Lucca, “one’s soul is certainly moved by soothing and devout impressions and filled with admiration and awe at the revelation of such an existence.”

“You cannot imagine,” writes another, “how much good is being effected in many souls by this angelic creature. I too am devoted to her-she inspires me with confidence; the mere thought of her comforts me, and she in her turn takes special care of my poor soul.”

Our Superior-General when granting my request to reprint this Biography, wrote the following words:

“I rejoice beyond measure at hearing so many good things about our Gemma, and feel assured our Lord wills to glorify her on earth, where she always kept hidden. I willingly give leave to publish a second edition of her Life and hope that it will do as much good as the first, that was so well received.” A most eminent Cardinal of Holy Church, not satisfied with having read this Life many times and with having procured copies of it for distribution, after having spoken at length of Gemma’s virtues to a friend of mine, said to him:

“Tell the Author to come and see me when he is in Rome, to talk to me about this dear Servant of God; be sure to tell him to come, because I want to hear from his mouth about Gemma. It is a matter in which I am greatly interested.”

And as with Ecclesiastics and Religious, so also with the laity of both sexes. The words of one will serve for those of many:

“I have just learned,” said a father of a family, technical director of a leading artistic firm in Rome, “that your Reverence is about to print the third edition of Gemma Galgani’s Biography, and I cannot cease to thank God for having deigned to make known His faithful Servant by the prodigious circulation of this golden Life. I feel I ought to tell you that I attribute the reception of many graces to this dear little Saint. Not only have I experienced very great spiritual consolation while reading about her, but I have felt my self enlightened by grace and encouraged to lead a better life. My Communions are more fervent and my energy greater in facing the battle of life. I attribute this to the intercession of Gemma, to whom all my family and I recommend ourselves continually. God grant that all may be moved to have recourse to her, for I feel quite sure that their hopes will not be disappointed. A great many persons known to me to whom I gave the Life of Gemma to read., suggesting that they should take her as their patron, have told me of graces and favors received since reading her life; they have felt themselves drawn to her and, what is more important, bettered in soul and consoled in their troubles.”

A letter reaches me, while giving these pages to be printed, from a distinguished. Professor, and President of a College in Rome, from which I add here a few extracts:

“Rev. Father,” it begins, “I have returned from my pilgrimage to Lucca with the Polish Priest whom you know and another pious person. We prayed a long time at Gemma Galgani’s tomb, asking through her intercession for a spark of that Divine Love with which her soul was on fire.

“At the sight of so many memorials of this angelic girl’s life a strange impression came over us, and we felt our souls overflowing with feelings of ineffable peace and consolation in the one thought of God’s wonderful manifestation of Himself in His Saints. We had already visited Alvernia; yet the impression made at Lucca was even greater than that which we experienced in the Chapel of the Stigmata on that hallowed mountain.

“We repeatedly blessed God for having inspired you to write the Life of the dear young Saint, the manifestation of whose singular virtues has done so much good to souls. What a help to recollection and meditation! What a school in the ways of the Spirit! These are not only my own private impressions, they are what I have heard from numberless Priests and Religious as well here in Rome as during my journey through Arezzo, Bibiena, Florence, and Lucca. All are of the same mind without having any knowledge of the author of the Life. I even heard one very distinguished person say that such a Life surpassed that of St Teresa (as indeed it does in some respects); and that it is an unfailing fountain—a true school of the devout and mystic life. Then the veneration that the Virgin of Lucca excites wherever she is heard of is so great that you would not expect more in the case of a canonized Saint. In my Institute she has inspired a real enthusiasm in the students and in the Professors; and I have found a few passages read from her Biography produce marvelous effects particularly in giving new life to faith.”

The Extracts given in this and the next CHAPTER have been taken hastily from hundreds of letters, now in my hands; they would form a large volume. They are written by every class of persons, from all parts of the world., including even China, and continue to come daily. The following expressions of thought and feeling by different persons, which close this chapter, are among the more recent and are very striking.”

“The Life of Gemma,” writes a Rector of the Jesuits, “has given immense general satisfaction. For my part I confess that I cannot keep from invoking her continually, nor from addressing her as Saint Gemma. You, Rev. Father, by publishing the Biography of this Saint and her letters and ecstasies, have accomplished a Mission for the good of innumerable Souls now and in the future that is worth more than hundreds of our ordinary missions. . . . I have already given discourses on this Saintly Virgin in Retreats given to Religion Communities, and I will speak of her all the rest of my life, and cause her to be known and earnestly invoked. Furthermore I have promised in gratitude to contribute to the best of my power, even by obtaining subscriptions, to the Cause of her Beatification. Gemma without doubt will be canonized, and that before long, by the Oracle of the Church, and will be numbered among the greatest Saints that we venerate on the Altars. That is my opinion.”

Gemma’s picture is to be found everywhere, and her relics are worn by many who confidently implore her intercession in all their needs. Over a hundred thousand of these relics have already been eagerly sought and distributed.

Many have chosen this Virgin as Patron of the Catholic works directed by them. Among this number is the Pious Union of the Roman Priests, who, under the protection of Gemma, are striving to promote in Rome the decorum of the House of God, and the good of Souls.

In their frequent meetings one of their chief practices is to read some passage from the Life of this Servant of God, accompanied by observations that edify and move to the imitation of her virtues.

A writer from Acqui says: “On simply reading this Life one feels as it were dazzled, and I must say for myself, that never in my life have I been so moved by reading any book or found in it so much to edify me.”

A stranger called at our Retreat of SS. John and Paul in Rome and asked to see me. On my coming to him he requested to see me privately, and when we were alone he said: “I have been sent to you by Gemma Galgani, who, drawing me from the abyss of sin in which I was involved, spoke the following words to my ear as well as to my heart: ‘Go to Rome, seek at the Monastery of SS. John and Paul a certain Fr. Germanus, and settle with him the affairs of your soul without delay; otherwise Jesus will strike you.’”

This said with tears in his eyes, he threw himself at my feet, saying: “Father, hear my Confession.” I also shed tears of emotion, heard his Confession, and absolved him. Then, after mutual kind words, he, like one risen from death to life, thanked me and left for the railway station to return to the town whence he had come.

“I cannot tell you in words,” writes an illustrious Professor of Mondovi, “how much and in what way I have fallen in love with this charming creature Gemma Galgani. She was to me a revelation, I read her life in tears. I took her for my advocate. I keep her always in mind and when I think of her I find that she corrects and encourages me. One of the Oratorian Fathers here desires me tell you that he looks on Gemma as the Saint of our day, and as an Apostle specially sent by God in order to awaken new fervor and zeal in the hearts of the Priesthood.”

Another person makes the following observation: “I should have wonderful things to tell you. I should be able to show how the name of Gemma alone carries with it an indescribable sweetness, attraction and fascination; and this without describing the still more wonderful effect produced in hearts, more particularly of young people, when they come to know her. As a Missionary I can give clear proof of this statement.”

“Reading the Biography of Gemma,” writes another correspondent, “produces sweet and fervent impressions in the Soul, and the reader remains filled with grateful wonder at the revelation of such a marvelous existence. One could scarcely believe the amount of good that is being wrought in thousands of minds by this Angelic Creature.”

A Priest from the Province of Potenza says: “I read those pages,” he writes, “with intense avidity and interest, and know not how to express what I felt while reading. It was a mixture of adverse sentiments; of joy at God having raised such a favored Soul to promote His Glory while confounding the wise ones of this world; of grief at not having known how to correspond as she did with Divine Grace; of love for her because of the example of Virtue she has left us, and of abhorrence of our times which no longer know how to value the gifts of God. . . . I have felt such emotion while reading this Life, that I have been frequently obliged to lay aside the book.”

“I am reading,” writes another, “for the second time the Life of this Most amiable and spotless Gemma, and in so doing am often moved to tears. I don’t know how to put it: that in this Life there is a something mysterious that attracts, conquers, and carries away the mind and the heart . . . feelings I have never experienced in reading the lives of other saints. . . . In these bad and wicked times . . . oh! what great reason is there not to be comforted; . . . for the good who weep and are consoled; . . . for the tepid who are thus moved to a new life in the flames of so much Divine Love, and for poor blind sinners who, with such an object before them, are almost forced to repentance.”

One of the Canons of Fano also writes:

“I have read the Life of the holy maiden Gemma Galgani, and to say that I have been bewildered in my astonishment would not be all; nor enough to express the depth of the impression that it has made upon me. One really feels here face to face with a supernatural marvel of the Infinite Goodness of God. It is not possible here to lose sight of Gemma’s holy figure, nor to remain indifferent to it. Her story is a continuous miracle, and her words largely quoted, but never enough to satisfy the reader, touch with a sweetness and force that ravish one. I who am so cold and so hard, that I believe I never dropped a tear at reading the life of any Saint, have been repeatedly moved and have found tears rushing to my eyes. Judging by myself I should say that the life of this heavenly Creature; is destined to make the deepest impression everywhere.”

Father Lewis Fontava, Barnabite, writing from Naples says: “I caused a picture of Gemma to be put under the pillow of a dying Freemason who refused to be reconciled to the Church. That was on Tuesday evening in Holy week; the next day, Wednesday, of his own accord he asked for the Sacraments? From the few quotations I have given—chosen among hundreds—it is easy to see that the admiration in which the faithful hold this seraphic virgin, and the religious spirit that through her means is being gradually propagated, are not sterile but truly fruitful sentiments; they fill the soul with emotion and move it to imitation; they create a desire to be detached from earthly things in order to love only those of Heaven; they help one to put off the old man so as to be clothed in the New.

After listening to such a concert of praise from every class of persons, and beholding God’s merciful working in souls through the humblest means, let us not heed those idle talkers who, without having seen or read or examined anything, make assertions that are contrary to facts!