Catholic Heroes… St. Gemma Galgani
By DEB PIROCH Her “littleness and gentleness” — thus, this great saint canonized in the twentieth century (1878-1903) was described by another saint, Pope St. John Paul II. Just as a diadem is nothing without its crown, this holy woman who died at age 25 was the great “gem” lit within with the fire of holiness. (“Gemma” means “gem” in Italian.)She was the fourth of eight children and the eldest daughter born to a pharmacist and his wife, living much of her life in Lucca, Italy. When people would visit Padre Pio from Lucca, he would ask what they wanted with him, when they had such a great saint already in their midst.Her mother was deeply religious as, too, was…Continue Reading