Quick Bio: St. Gemma lost her mother when she was eight years old. She looked after her own siblings and eventually became a nanny for two other families.
St. Gemma’s brother died when she was 16 years old and her father died just three years later, when she was 19 years old.
St. Gemma lived a simple life of virtue, with plenty of sacrifice and prayer.
She had visions of Jesus and she received the stigmata.
Denied entry into a convent, she prayed for a convent in Lucca (which opened after her death).
Virtue: St Gemma modelled the virtue of Humility for us; she recognized her littleness and realized that she must rely on God for everything.
Humility helps us to stay aware of our strengths and weaknesses; to admit and correct flaws and failures and to remain free from pride and arrogance. Humility helps us to recognize that all of our gifts come from God and fosters appreciation for the gifts of others.
Most of us experience the affects of pride. Pride makes us want to have our way; to do the things we want to do, how and when we choose. Presumptive pride makes us think that we can earn Heaven by completing the right list of tasks, while avoiding the crosses God is using to draw us closer to Him. Reverse pride convinces us that we are not loved by God. We dismiss the gifts that God gives us and we experience fear, worry, anxiety and isolation. We consider ourselves unworthy of real love and we resort to other attachments to cope.
Humility is not self-deprecating. It helps us to recognize our need for God, while recognizing our dignity made in His Image and Likeness.
Learning from St. Gemma:
Along with St Gemma, we need to resist our efforts to be self-sufficient and instead rely on God. We need to recognize those things in our lives that we have become too attached to, that get in the way of our relationship with God (affirmation, approval, control, self-sufficiency, food and comfort).
We need to live humbly, open to His Will, pursuing holiness and trusting in God’s Mercy and Love. We are called to recognize the gifts and talents He has given us and use them for good.
Consider:
What things are we attached to, that might get in the way of our prayer, living our Faith and our relationship with God?
In what areas do we struggle because we’re trying to do it all on our own?
Prayer Prompt:
When I’m frustrated because things aren’t going as I planned, I’ll pray:
Inspired by the book Magnify
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Thank You for this information on Saint Gemma. We are looking forward to your future posts on the Saints. Have a Blessed lent. God Bless.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn