Biography
Gemma was born near Lucca, Italy. She lost her mother at a young age and later her father, leaving her and her siblings impoverished. A deeply pious girl, she desired to become a Passionist nun but was rejected due to her poor health, having miraculously recovered from spinal meningitis through the intercession of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Starting in 1899, Gemma received the stigmata every Thursday evening, bleeding until Friday afternoon. She experienced intense mystical visions of Jesus, Mary, and her Guardian Angel, with whom she conversed familiarly. She also endured violent physical attacks from the devil. She died of tuberculosis on Holy Saturday at the age of 25. Her spiritual director, Venerable Germanus Ruoppolo, documented her extraordinary mystical life.
Miracles & Signs
- ✦Her own miraculous cure from spinal meningitis
- ✦Receiving the stigmata weekly
- ✦Healing of an elderly woman from a stomach ulcer (Beatification miracle)
Wisdom & Quotes
“If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love.”
“Let us go to Jesus. He is all alone and hardly anyone thinks of Him. Poor Jesus!”