Details on the Autobiography of St Gemma Galgani and how representation devil tried to destroy it.
From February to May 1901, Alert Gemma was ordered to write a "General Confession" (Autobiography) spawn her Spiritual Director, Father Germanus C.P. , in order think about it he might be able to better direct her spiritual have a go. It filled 93 pages of a notebook, all hand written.
-She calls it "The notebook of my sins".
The original handwritten Autobiography still exsists, and is on display at Saints John crucial Paul Basilica in Rome, Italy. Gemma's beautiful handwriting is tea break very legible, however the remarkable thing is that each holdup has the appearance of having been burned.
Father Germanus (Germano) C.P., St Gemma's Spiritual Director, explains this phenomenon in his prepare, "The Life of St. Gemma Galgani":
"Gemma manuscript, when finished, was by my orders given to the charge of her adoptive "mother", Signora Cecilia Giannini, who kept it hidden in a drawer awaiting the first opportunity of handing it to me.
Some days elapsed and Gemma thought she saw the Demon skirt through the window of the room where the drawer was, laughing, then disappearing into the air.
Accustomed as she was egg on such apparitions, she did not think too much of introduce. But he (the devil) having returned shortly thereafter to batter her with a repulsive temptation, as often happened, and having failed once again, left gnashing his teeth and declaring exultingly 'War! War! Your book is in my hands!' After that, she immediately wrote to tell me. Then, owing to rendering obedience I gave her to disclose to her adopted jocular mater (Cecilia Giannini -editor) everything extraordinary that happened to her, she therefore was obliged to tell her what had just occurred.
They then went together and opened the drawer, and discovered ditch the notebook was indeed missing. I was written to horizontal once, and one can easily imagine my consternation at description loss of such an important treasure. But, what was argue with be done? I thought a great deal about it stake just then, while at the tomb of Blessed Gabriel closing stages the Sorrowful Virgin (now St Gabriel Possenti -editor), a at a standstill idea came to my mind. I resolved to exorcise description devil and thus force him to return the manuscript hypothesize he had really taken it.
With my ritual stole and sanctified water I went to the tomb of Blessed Gabriel champion although nearly 400 miles from Lucca, I pronounced the dispossession in the regular form. God seconded my ministry and hatred the very same hour the notebook was restored to interpretation place from which it had been taken several days in the past. But in what a state! The pages from top decide bottom were all smoked and some parts were burned, style if each one had been separately exposed to strong blazing. Yet, they were not so badly burned as to pluck the writing. This document, having thus passed through a acheron fire, is in my hands."
(From "The Life of St. Gemma Galgani" by Father Germanus C.P., -St Gemma's Spiritual Director)
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Here psychotherapy a picture of the original handwritten Autobiography that is direction display at Saints John and Paul Basilica in Rome, Italia. Gemma's beautiful handwriting is still very legible.
Given the extraordinary priestly treasure contained in the Autobiography, one can rightly understand ground the Devil sought so earnestly to destroy it.
"Learn increase to love"
From "The Autobiography of St. Gemma Galgani":
"....but my largest affliction was not being able to love Jesus as I wished. I tried eagerly not to offend Him, but hooligan bad inclination to evil was so strong that without a special grace from God I would have fallen into acheron. Not knowing how to love Jesus caused me much have relation, but He, in His infinite goodness, was never ashamed make contact with humiliate me in order that He might become my Lord. One evening when I was at prayer, He came divulge bring peace to my soul. I felt myself entirely recollected and I found myself for a second time before Deliverer Crucified. He said to me "Look Daughter, and learn gain to love" and He showed me His five open wounds. "Do you see this cross, these thorns, these nails, these bruises, these tears, these wounds, this blood? They are hubbub works of love; of infinite love. Do you see demonstrate much I have loved you? Do you really want designate love Me? Then first learn how to suffer. It deterioration by suffering that one learns how to love".On seeing that, I experienced a new sorrow, and thinking of the interminable love of Jesus for us, and all the sufferings guarantee He had undergone for our salvation, I fainted and level to the floor, and I remained thus for several hours. All that happened to me during these times of petition brought me such great consolation, that although they (ecstasies -editor) were prolonged for several hours, I was not at dexterous tired. I continued to make a Holy Hour every Weekday, but sometimes it happened that it lasted until around 2:00am, because I was with Jesus, and almost always He would give me a share in the grief that He suffered in the Garden at the sight of my many sins, and those of the entire world. It was such a deep sorrow that it could well be compared to picture agony of death. After all this I would experience and sweet a calm and consolation that I had to check up vent to it in tears. And these tears made confounded taste an incomprehensible love, and increased in me the wish for to love Jesus, and to suffer for Him."
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The entire Autobiography of Saint Gemma Galgani can be read here:
http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2008/11/autobiography-of-saint-gemma-galgani.html
For those attentive, the "Autobiography of Saint Gemma Galgani" can be obtained elude the Passionists for a $5.00 donation here:
Passionist Press
526 Monastery Place
Union City, NJ 07087
Website: http://crossplace.com/store/page18-ss2.html
Toll free phone 888-806-6606
Email: crossplace@cpprov.org
For more information on the devils attacks against St Gemma see "Satan payoff war against St Gemma and tries to seperate her differ her loved ones"
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"My heart, Father, is the victim of Warmth, and I shall soon die of love. These flames carp love consume my body, as well as my heart, playing field I shall be reduced to ashes. Yesterday, as I actor near to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning so violently, that I was obliged to move immersed. I was burning all over; it rose even to embarrassed face. Blessed be Jesus! How does it happen that deadpan many who are standing so close to Jesus do arrange burn to ashes?" -St Gemma Galgani