Saint Gemma Galgani

Life story

Gemma was born on 12 March 1878 at Camigliano, near Lucca in Tuscany. Her mother died in 1885 and her father in 1897, leaving younger siblings behind. Gemma took on the care of her younger siblings while often being unwell herself.

She wished to enter the Passionists' convent but was turned away, partly because of her health. Around 1898–1899 she suffered a spinal illness that left her at times unable to walk. She then lived with the Giustini family in Lucca for the rest of her life. From 8 June 1899 it was reported that stigmata-like wounds appeared on her body in recurring episodes; her spiritual director and biographer was the Passionist Fr Germano Ruoppolo.

Opinions about these phenomena have been divided. People close to her believed them to be miraculous, whereas some physicians and psychologists later judged them self-inflicted or the result of mental illness. The Church's cause rested chiefly on her virtue of life rather than on these phenomena.

In early 1903 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and died on 11 April 1903 in Lucca, aged 25. Pius XI beatified her on 14 May 1933, and Pius XII canonised her on 2 May 1940.

Works and witness

• Orphaned of her mother in 1885 and father in 1897; raised her younger siblings in poverty
• Refused entry to the Passionists; lived in Lucca with the Giustini family
• Reported to have had the stigmata from June 1899, with opinions divided
• Died of tuberculosis in 1903, aged 25
• Canonised in 1940

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Fr Germano di S. Stanislao, Vita della Serva di Dio Gemma Galgani (biography by her spiritual director)
• Decrees of beatification (1933) and canonisation (1940)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.