- St. Gemma Galgani (1878 - 1903)
Today is the feast day of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Gemma Galgani. Stanislaus was born around 1030 in Szczepanow (which is near Krakow), Poland. He was ordained a priest at Gniezno (then the capital of Poland), and was appointed preacher and archdeacon to the bishop of Krakow. His eloquence in preaching and holy example of living helped bring about the conversion of many of his penitents. Stanislaus became the bishop of Krakow in 1072. During his time as bishop, he denounced the evils of the peasantry and king, especially the unjust wars and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II. Stanislaus continued opposing the acts of the king openly despite threats of death and charges of treason. Finally, Stanislaus excommunicated the king. This made King Boleslaus very upset, and he ordered his soldiers to go kill Stanislaus. When they refused, Boleslaus killed Stanislaus himself while he was saying Mass in a chapel just outside of Krakow in 1079.
Saint Gemma Galgani was born in 1878 in Lucca, Italy. She loved to pray as a child, and this love continued throughout her life and grew. Gemma also had many mystical experiences, which were often misunderstood and ridiculed. At the age of 19, Gemma's father died and she was left to raise her seven brothers and sisters. When some of her other brothers and sisters were old enough to share this responsibility, Gemma moved in with her married aunt for a while. During this time, two young men asked to marry her, but she refused. She returned home and fell ill with meningitis. She prayed to St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (then Venerable Gabriel Possenti), and was cured through his intercession. She wished to become a nun, but was not able to because of her poor health. In 1899, Gemma received the stigmata. Every Thursday evening, Gemma would fall into a rapture and the marks of the stigmata would appear. The stigmata remained until Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. The wounds would then close, and only white marks would appear on her skin in the place of the deep gashes. Gemma also often saw her guardian angel, and even sent her angel on errands. In 1903, Gemma was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She died in the company of the parish priest on April 11, 1903, at the age of 25. She was canonized in 1940.
Saint Stanislaus and Saint Gemma, pray for us!
___________________________________________
Pictures Of And Information About Saints Stanislaus and Gemma Taken From:
http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/
http://sacredheartchariton.blogspot.com/2011/04/st-stanislaus-bishop-and-martyr.html
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=207
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1350
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=225
No comments:
Post a Comment