St. Gemma Galgani
Born: March 12, 1878
Died: April 11, 1903
Canonized: May 2, 1940 by Pope Pius XII
Feast Day: 11 April
Patron Saint of: druggists, pharmacists
A twentieth-century mystic that predicted the foundation of a Passionist
convent at Lucca. Her mother died when she was seven. Gemma's father was a poor
pharmacist who continued to raise his eight children until his death some eleven
years later. At age eighteen, Gemma was forced to assume the role of parent to
her other seven brothers and sisters.
She contracted spinal tuberculosis while in her teens, but was later cured
through intercessory prayer to Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. She
repeatedly attempted to join a religious order, but was denied because of doubts
raised concerning her miraculous cure. Committed to a life serving her Lord, she
became a Passionist.
Starting in June of 1899, Gemma was blessed with the Stigma of the hands and
feet from sundown Thursday through Friday afternoon. She was blessed with
visions of her guardian angel, and was tormented with visions of Satan.
