A prayer for purity of heart through the intercession of Saint Gemma
Oh devout virgin Saint Gemma, you once prayed: "To come to heaven requires purity of heart: give it to me, my Jesus; Yes, I so desire purity of heart!" And then, turning also to the Blessed Virgin Mary for Her heavenly help you once said: "Blessed Mother, never allow me to lose holy purity. Place me under your mantle, guard this treasure for me, and I shall become more pleasing to Jesus."
We turn to you then, Oh holy Gemma, and we make your prayers to Jesus and Mary our own, calling upon your heavenly assistance for the grace of holy purity. Assist us then, dear Gemma, in obtaining this precious jewel from Jesus, with the help of our beloved Mother Mary. Be our heavenly friend and patroness, and lead us ever closer into the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the infinite source of purity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
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A heroic example of St Gemma's desire for purity:
Among the devout practices that Gemma performed to obtain and preserve holy purity was one that was taught to her at a very young age by her solicitous mother. Together with her mother they would recite devoutly every evening while kneeling with their hands under their knees, three Hail Marys to the Queen of Heaven in honor of her Immaculate Conception. The innocent child, though knowing so little at that early age, took keenly to this devotion and never omitted it, continuing this holy practice daily until the end of her life.
In fact, a few days before her death, finding herself alone, although she had lost all strength and could not stand, she rose, and taken by surprise by a visitor, she was found kneeling with her hands beneath her knees, reciting her usual 3 Hail Mary’s for purity. Thus, even extreme illness did not dampen her desire for holy purity.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
~St Gemma Galgani, pray for us!
Click here for more examples of St Gemma's desire for purity of heart
Oh devout virgin Saint Gemma, you once prayed: "To come to heaven requires purity of heart: give it to me, my Jesus; Yes, I so desire purity of heart!" And then, turning also to the Blessed Virgin Mary for Her heavenly help you once said: "Blessed Mother, never allow me to lose holy purity. Place me under your mantle, guard this treasure for me, and I shall become more pleasing to Jesus."
We turn to you then, Oh holy Gemma, and we make your prayers to Jesus and Mary our own, calling upon your heavenly assistance for the grace of holy purity. Assist us then, dear Gemma, in obtaining this precious jewel from Jesus, with the help of our beloved Mother Mary. Be our heavenly friend and patroness, and lead us ever closer into the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the infinite source of purity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
___________________________________________
A heroic example of St Gemma's desire for purity:
Among the devout practices that Gemma performed to obtain and preserve holy purity was one that was taught to her at a very young age by her solicitous mother. Together with her mother they would recite devoutly every evening while kneeling with their hands under their knees, three Hail Marys to the Queen of Heaven in honor of her Immaculate Conception. The innocent child, though knowing so little at that early age, took keenly to this devotion and never omitted it, continuing this holy practice daily until the end of her life.
In fact, a few days before her death, finding herself alone, although she had lost all strength and could not stand, she rose, and taken by surprise by a visitor, she was found kneeling with her hands beneath her knees, reciting her usual 3 Hail Mary’s for purity. Thus, even extreme illness did not dampen her desire for holy purity.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
~St Gemma Galgani, pray for us!
Click here for more examples of St Gemma's desire for purity of heart
4 comments:
Hello, this has been a great devotion to pick up! I was wondering what exactly is meant by kneeling with hands under knees? I did it with my hands between the ground and my knees, maybe as a small penance?
Hello, I just think it means what it says. Like you place your hands on the ground put your knees on the palm of your hands, and pray like that. Maybe google search it, and you will see.
Greaat blog
St. Gemma is such an inspiration, and I am so glad that through God's providence, she reached out to me to help guide me in my faith journey. I started incorporating in my own life her practice of kneeling with her hands under her knees and reciting three Hail Marys nightly.
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