Ten Things about St. Gemma Galgani that Caught My Eye Today (Her Feast Day, April 11, 2015)

St. Gemma Galgani is a saint who needs to be more well-known and could be a great model and intercessor for our times. April 11 is the wonderful feast day when we celebrate her life. Do get to know her or share her with someone today.

1.

(Found that here.)

2.

Happy Feast Day of St. Gemma Galgani! Read more about this beautiful saint here: http://t.co/3KgwLdL0Fx #saintsofthe21stcentury #saint

— CatholicNYC (@CatholicNYC) April 11, 2015

3. From her autobiography:

One day Jesus lovingly said to me… : “Daughter, what can I say when you, in all your doubts, afflictions and adversities think always of yourself instead of me. When you always hasten to find some relief and comfort rather than turn to me?”

…

“Gemma, do you think that I am not offended when in your great needs you turn to things that cannot bring you consolation instead of turning to me? I suffer, daughter, when I see you forget me.” This last reproof was enough for me and it succeeded in detaching me entirely from every creature in order to seek my Creator in everything.

4.

today we venerate St. Gemma Galgani, here shown in a statue made by Mussner G. Vincenzo pic.twitter.com/SatiCh3NhS

— Vincenzo G. Mussner (@GMussner) April 11, 2015

5.

"If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love" (St. Gemma Galgani) #HolySaturday

— Catholic-Link (@catholink) April 5, 2015

6. “How to Love Jesus”:

In a letter to commemorate the centenary of the birth of St. Gemma in 1978, Cardinal Giovanni Villot pointed out that Gemma “proved with her life ‘to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified’” (cf. 1 Cor.2:2). He quoted her advice on the “quickest way to learn to love Jesus”: “Do you want to love Jesus always? Never stop suffering for Him for a moment.” In this spirit she was able to deal with so many sorrows: the loss of her family to fatal illnesses; her own repeated bouts with serious illness; the coldness, distrust, and ridicule she often encountered when others learned of her piety and mystical experiences; and, hardest of all for her, the obstacles that prevented her from entering a convent. These “purifying flames” provided St. Gemma with the means to unite herself more closely with her crucified Lord and to participate in His salvific work.
Many times in her ecstasies she pleaded for the conversion of some sinner she had learned of, and by offering her sufferings on his or her behalf, she invariably obtained that person’s return to God. But Gemma also offered her trials in expiation for the many evils she knew were occurring in the world and on behalf of priests and missionaries. Thus, although St. Gemma spent nearly her entire life in the small Italian city of Lucca, working and praying in a humble domestic setting, her charity knew no bounds. How very true were the words Our Lord spoke to her: “In suffering one learns how to love.”

…
But how do we acquire the strength to suffer all things with and for Christ? We should use the same ordinary means of which St. Gemma availed herself. She grew in virtue by attending daily the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, by frequent reception of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance, and through her devotion to Mary and her guardian angel. When so many are tempted today by a spurious Christianity (one without the Cross), it is especially important that we follow St. Gemma’s example in making the sacred Passion of Christ a major subject of our thoughts and prayers, that we “relive the Paschal mystery, so passionately felt by the Spirit.”

7. A dinner menu for her feast day.

8.

.@MarilynLuinstra @stjoeschurch I get the 1st part, but is the 2nd part our job?

— Pastor Pending (@RecentPastor) March 24, 2015

@RecentPastor That's the amazing thing about St. Gemma Galgani She just offered her sufferings for others. #stigmata pic.twitter.com/QCl0aCb895

— Marilyn Luinstra (@MarilynLuinstra) March 26, 2015

9.

“When I shrink from suffering . . . I say ‘Jesus, Your will and not mine’. I am convinced that only God can make me happy” St Gemma Galgani

— Marilyn Luinstra (@MarilynLuinstra) March 25, 2015

10. You could basically spend the rest of your day on this website.