Saint Who?
Saints Who Saw Angels
Saint Gemma Galgani
Virgin († 1903) Feast: April 11
In Gemma’s autobiography, she describes seeing her guardian angel every day. However, that heavenly privilege came at a price. While the angel encouraged her in her quest for holiness, he also pointed out every one of her sins, mistakes, and personal failings.
Gemma’s mother died when she was seven years old, and her father died when she was eighteen. She became a housekeeper to support herself and some of her seven younger siblings. She struggled constantly with health problems, which is one of the reasons she was rejected when she tried to become a Passionist nun. Mystical phenomena surrounded the beautiful young woman, which also made some people uneasy. For example, Gemma received the stigmata, saw visions of our Lord and the saints, and was repeatedly tempted by the devil to commit such acts as breaking her rosary or spitting on her crucifix.
With the guidance of her angel and with the help of her spiritual director—who later wrote her biography—Gemma grew in holiness. She also became widely known in her native Lucca, Italy, for her kindness and spiritual peace. After she died of a long, painful illness at the age of twenty-five, she finally got her wish of entering a Passionist convent: her relics are housed in a sanctuary associated with a Passionist monastery named in her honor.
Almighty God, help us listen to the encouragement
and correction of our guardian angels.
