Saint Gemma Novena – Day 1

Join All Saints Museum for a Novena in honor of St. Gemma Galgani, who will be celebrating her Birthday in just 9 days.

St. Gemma, Virgin, Stigmatist, and Victim for Souls, was born on March 12, 1878.

Day 1:

http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2008/11/novena-to-st-gemma-galgani.html

Preface: Oh most Divine Lord, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy Infinite Majesty, and we adore Thee and dedicate to Thy glory the devout prayers which we now present to Thee, as an act of devotion to your servant, St Gemma Galgani, whose intercession we are now imploring.

Most compassionate virgin, St. Gemma, during thy short life on earth, you gave a most beautiful example of angelic innocence and seraphic love and was found worthy to bear in thy flesh the marks of our Lord’s Passion. Have pity on us who are so much in need of God’s Mercy, and obtain for us through thy merits and intercession, the special favor which we now fervently implore (mention request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

Pray for us, Saint Gemma, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray.

O God, Who fashioned thy servant Saint Gemma into a likeness of Thy Crucified Son, grant us through her intercession the favor that we humbly request, and through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Thy Son, may we be united with You for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Saint Gemma for Lent

As we are well into Lent, I would like to introduce you to Saint Gemma Galgani. She had a particular devotion to Lent and to the Passion of our Lord Jesus. She was born on March 12, 1878 in Camigliano, Italy. She died on Holy Saturday, April 11th (Celebrated as her Feast day). She received the stigmata, which are the wounds of Christ, on June 8th, 1899. St. Gemma had a great devotion to our Lord in the Eucharist. She once said, “…on approaching the Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.” This burning wasn’t metaphorical, or some abstract desire. For Saint Gemma the burning was real, so much so that it caused external wounds over the region of the heart, as if it had been burnt with a red-hot iron plate. Once an Angel appeared to St. Gemma.  He had two beautiful crowns; one of thorns and one of lilies. He asked her which one she wished. And St. Gemma replied, “That of Jesus.” What a beautiful reflection for Lent. May we have the courage to choose the crown of thorns when offered to us. Let us choose, as lovers of Christ, to unite ourselves to Him. Amen!

Learn more about St. Gemma by visiting:

http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/

Also see our Live Wax Museum exhibit of St. Gemma!

Live Wax Museum

Have a Blessed Lent.