The heavenly help of Saint Gemma

Two recent true stories of St Gemma's heavenly intercession

This past week I received two emails--just three days apart--that gave beautiful testimonies to St Gemma's remarkable heavenly intercession in the lives of many in the world today. Since both true stories are very inspiring and edifying, I thought to post them together here, and those concerned kindly gave me permission to do so, with my assurance to keep their names and other identifying information private.

Here is the first email:
On Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 9:42 PM, Lisa [Last name withheld for privacy], [email address withheld] wrote:

"Dear Glenn,

I must commend you on your website to St. Gemma; it is a beautiful testament to her. I have to admit I am new to St. Gemma, and I have to thank your website for learning more about her.

A little bit about myself. I was brought up Catholic, but became lapsed for
the past couple of years. I had suffered physically through four spinal
surgeries that left me disabled, going through a separation and
reconciliation of my marriage, and the loss of three of my close family
members. While I still prayed, I had found it difficult to sit in mass and
eventually retreated to being a "holiday" catholic.

Recently, I had been told of the need for a fifth surgery; I was in tremendous pain and exhausted and worried that I was failing to be the mother and wife I wanted to be. In
November, a friend had told me about a healing mass and encouraged me to go.
During that experience, I was in a back brace and hunched over a walker, and
the priest came to me and said, "I heard there was a young lady here who was
a big mess."
I left and after my blessing and I had a vision of a beautiful woman, who told me her name was "Gemma".

I asked my friends if there was a St. "Gemma" or "Jemma" known to them. My
friend said she didn't know of a saint by that name and we left it there. I
also felt held and heard "Welcome, home.' -a truly life changing experience!

The next day, I was talking to my friend that attended the same mass and
decided to check on the computer for a St. Gemma or Jemma, and was directed
to your site. I was speechless and began crying, for lo and behold, the
picture of St. Gemma was an exact replica of the vision I had. I also
identified with many of her life experiences.

Since then, I have been discerning my path and reading about and praying to
Gemma. I am constantly amazed at her obedience and purity, while
understanding her emotions. I tend to be all or nothing myself.

I thank you for your site because it has helped me restore my faith and work
to include St. Gemma more fully into my life.

Thank you and God Bless,
Lisa"
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Having read this extraordinary and beautiful testimony I emailed Lisa back seeking some further information:

From: Glenn Dallaire [mailto:gdallaire1@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 8:52 AM
To: Lisa [Last name withheld]
Subject: Re: Your blog and my miraculous introduction to St. Gemma

Hi Lisa,
It is really nice to meet you---thank you for your kind email and especially for sharing the story of the heavenly grace that you recently received.

While reading your story, my strong impression is that if Jesus has revealed St Gemma to you in this remarkable manner, it is because you are to have a special relationship with her---so I am glad to hear that you are reading about her holy life and her extraordinary love for Jesus and Mary, and that you are trying to spiritually follow in her footsteps and her holy example.

And, of course you know from the website how Gemma is the patroness of those who suffer with back and spinal illnesses, injuries and pain, so obviously she is a special patroness for those, such as yourself, who suffer with severe back problems and pain, especially given all that she herself suffered in this regards.

While reading your story I was wondering a few things, if it is not too personal, and you don't mind responding---and of course I always keep these private matters to myself---anyway, the first thing I was wondering was that while it is obvious that you were reinvigorated in your spiritual life and your faith through this experience, and may God be fervently blessed for this, but I was wondering about your severe back pain/problem---has there been any improvement in this regards? And the other thing that I was wondering is have you had other visions prior to this, or is this the first time you have had such an experience? And the third thing that I was wondering is did Gemma say anything else to you other than her name? If you are not comfortable answering either of these questions, that is fine....I was just wondering.

Anyway, thank you once again Lisa for getting in touch with me. Your story inspires me and makes me love Gemma all the more. For, the website is really a "work of love" so to speak, as Gemma's holy life and virtues speak to my heart and soul like none other, and she herself has lovingly helped me in so many ways.

May God bless you, your family and your loved ones.
~St Gemma, pray for us!
Glenn Dallaire
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Soon afterwards Lisa kindly replied to my questions and comments:
[I will leave out numerous personal parts of Lisa's email which do not pertain to the subject of this article)

From: Lisa [Last name and email address withheld]
Date: Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:45 AM
Subject: RE: Your blog and my miraculous introduction to St. Gemma
To: Glenn Dallaire

"....My back problems began at the age of fourteen, when I had scoliosis surgery with a spinal fusion, and I remember my parents praying novenas to St. Anthony of Padua and St. Jude, as well as St. Therese of the Little Flower....[Lisa then goes onto to explain the several spinal surgeries that she eventually had to undergo]..

...So, I am finally leading to Gemma. I had been upset because my daughter and I both had nightmares of being attacked by a serpent, and I broke the news to my friend that invited me to the healing mass. I attended two nights. Visions I saw besides Gemma, and being held by Jesus, I felt, with the "Welcome Home", I received a message from my friend's mother who passed away and my friend confirmed the message was from her mother.

On the second night, I felt that Gemma wanted me to pray for the priest who did the healing because he was having spinal difficulties. I did talk to Fr. [name withheld] and he told me he needed Spinal Surgery. At the second mass, when I closed my eyes I saw the Sacret Heart of Jesus and rays reaching through different people. It felt like a sharp stab in the heart and then like the capacity of my heart was able to grow a little. I also couldn't get over the electrical currents within the church. The priest also told me I was in pain because I cared too much. I was left with one word repeating in my self-conscious: discernment.

Now, I did order Gemma's books, though I need to read them and I am wearing a medal of Gemma's. She appeared to me a second time in a dream. I had dreamt I saw a vision of Jesus, but something was off. I felt someone start saying the 'hail mary' in my head and I had a quick flash of Gemma. I felt this vision morph into a black vaporious sludge-like being, who became angry at me and created the severe feelings of (spinal) nerve pain . I woke up and I couldn't move and tried to speak. I felt like I was being choked and the only thing was the litany of Gemma saying the "Hail Mary" in my mind until I was finally able to speak the "Hail Mary's" out loud, and then this thing disappeared. In my head, I had a thought, "good for nothing"-I think from Gemma- I hope about this thing and not about me :).

When I have asked about discernment, a priest came along to answer....."

It has seemed when I have asked for a book on discernment in a book store, I found all these other books but that. I asked Gemma's help and what is waiting for me at the register- a book called "Discernment". Since then, I have also been feeling the need to pray to not only Gemma, but Teresa of Avila and Padre Pio. I did have a dream with Padre Pio. It is pretty amazing because I have spent the past year and a half living in gluttony and hedonism of the mind, and it just speaks to the power of God's forgiveness.

As for my back, it has improved. I was going to have a fifth surgery in March and now, I am contemplating putting it off. I still have a fusion that is moving, but miraculously my stenosis and nerve damage as diminished. I also have this feeling when I am pain of holding a calm admist a storm. In the past year, my stress and state of mind would increase the pain. I also now wonder about some of my pain and where it was coming from. In one of my dreams, I had Gemma and the Holy Spirit help to get rid of this entity or negativity that attacks from 2:49 unti 3:40 every night and I chased it down and had a vision unmasking the source. Once knowing this, it explained not only my negative year, but the attitudes and difficulties of my family, as well. That is another wacky story for another time, but I would never be able to come to these answers without Gemma. She is still helping me discern truth from lies.

I am both amazed and intimidated by her power. I think I have lacked her obedience and self-discipline and I hope she continues to shed light into those areas. It sounds like she has given you a beautiful sign of her appreciation- it is very special that you have a relic of hers. I have always been amazed at the saints and awed by their dedication. I'm sure I don't have what it takes, especially all their trials. I do know that most of the time having pain can be abnormal at a fairly young age; it is also a blessing in many ways. I hope it has made me more empathetic and sympathetic, but on other days unfortunately, it has also made me narcissictic. I do admit to being mostly flawed:}, but I guess that's part of being a Christian.

I hope and pray that you and your family are having a Happy New Year....
Thank you and Good night. May God Bless You and your loved ones,

Lisa"
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I sincerely thank Lisa for sharing her story. May God bless and reward her, and may Saint Gemma continue to be her heavenly friend and advocate!


The Second Story of St Gemma's heavenly intercession
The second story came in an email just three days after Lisa's and I am very grateful to Sr. Veronica for getting in touch and sharing the inspiring story below [Once again, last names and other identifying information has been withheld, for privacy. Also, some information not pertaining to the subject of this article has been removed]

From: Sr. Veronica [Last name and email address withheld]
Date: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 6:22 AM
Subject: Gemma Galgani
To: gdallaire1@gmail.com

"Dear Sir,
I am a carmelite sister [location withheld]. I must tell you of the help and comfort my brother and his family are having from St Gemma:

Over three years ago a presbytery owned by the Rosminian Fathers in England was closing down so they were disposing of things to prepare the house for sale. Among these things was a relic of St Gemma. The rector gave this to a man who was living in the house at the time saying "you might meet someone who would need this"

The man returned to {....} Ireland and went to see my brother, giving the relic to my brother he said, "Dan, you might know someone who could do with this." His dear wife had just recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Sometime later Dan opened the little box to find that the relic had gone! Then it came to Mary's last stage of cancer and she was to go for a lumber puncture. Being a nurse herself she knew what this entailed and dreaded it. Dan went out to their agricultural shop to lock it up before bringing Mary to the hospital. While locking the door he looked down and there was Gemma [relic] looking up at him. He found this hard to believe as we had been through some very harsh weather, rain, hail and snow, not to mention the storms, since the time he received the relic. He pinned it onto Mary's clothes and she had it with her in the hospital and then under her pillow at home until God called her home in August last. There was also a lady who helped Dan and Mary through her illness with her prayer and little images [visions].

Mary died, and then a month later we had the Month's Mind (this is a custom we have in Ireland). Rose (the other lady) was at the Mass and just before the Mass began she was aware of some people going up the aisle, she looked over and there she saw Mary and two other ladies. She knew Mary and Mary looked over at her and gave her a big smile. At this stage she didn't recognise the other ladies - they seemed to disappear as they reached the altar. Rose then looked over to where Dan and his family were and saw a very bright light overshadowing them.

Then came the Consecration of the Mass and the three ladies came out again and prostrated themselves before the altar. At this stage she recognised all three ; Our Lady, Mary and a lady called "Gemma"! She knew nothing about Gemma but when she told Dan later about what had happened he got his boys to 'google' Gemma and there they found Gemma Galgani and the web site. They also discovered that Mary and Gemma shared the same birthday! [March 12] I have since given them the book to read, the book written in 1913, just ten or eleven years after Gemma's death - so that should be quite authentic....

Another interesting thing is the fact that our Italian relatives live in Lucca (Carignano)/Viareggio....

God bless you and may Gemma be good to you as she is to Dan and Family,
Sr Veronica"
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I wrote a reply to Sr Veronica wanting to thank her for sharing this story and also seeking some further clarifications and information about the edifying intercession of St. Gemma in the life of her brother and his family and their friend Rose:

On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 10:44 PM, Glenn Dallaire wrote:

Dear Sister Veronica,
It is really nice to meet you.

Firstly, I wanted to thank you for getting in touch with me, and for sharing this wonderful story of the heavenly intercession of St Gemma in the lives of your brother Dan and his family. While I sorry to hear of the loss of his wife Mary, Rose's vision of Mary smiling joyfully is surely a great consolation for your brother and his children.

When I was reading your description of the story, I was wondering what Dan and Mary knew about St Gemma---I mean, since he was looking for the lost relic and eventually found it, and then she wore it and kept it under her pillow until her death---I was wondering what they knew about Gemma? -just that she was a holy person? Also I was wondering if Rose knew about the relic and if she knew about St Gemma?

[........] May God bless you and your loved ones. And please pray for my family and I---my wife and I have 6 children, ages 8-18---thank you!
-St Gemma, pray for us!
Glenn Dallaire

Additionally I sent Sr. Veronica another email asking for permission to publish her story
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And Sr. Veronica kindly replied:

On Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 4:22 PM, [Last name and email address withheld] wrote:

"Dear Glenn,

Thank you for your emails! We have no objections to you making known the wonders of God through Gemma! and I have one or two details to correct:
Dan was crossing the yard, over to his house when he found the relic. He placed it in an envelope which he placed under Mary's pillow and was there until she died - he has never found it since!

No, Dan never heard of Gemma. I did, and so did some other members of the family, but that was possibly because of my religious background and also from my aunt who lived in Lucca.

No, Rose never heard of her either!

There was quite a bit of devotion to her in Ireland especially where there were Passionist priests. One of my companions went to a Cross and Passion school (nuns) and they had a dormitory called St Gemma's!

I was at a Carmelite meeting over the past few days and I told the sisters about Gemma, my family and the other stories. They were all surprised and have suggested that we intercede with St Gemma for new Vocations - please join with us in this prayer and ask your wife and children to do the same (there are very few vocations in Ireland now).

[.....]

God bless you,
Sr Veronica"
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Once again, I would like to thank Lisa and Sr. Veronica, along with Dan and his family and their friend Rose for kindly sharing their inspiring stories of Saint Gemma's heavenly intercession. And I join them in thanking and blessing God for the kindness and love that He shows us through the intercession and intervention of His Saints. -Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!

-St Gemma, pray for us!
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"For the last eight days I have felt something mysterious in the area of my heart that I cannot understand. The first couple of days I disregarded it, because it gave me only a little trouble. But today is the third day, and this fire has increased, oh so much, as to be almost unbearable. I should need ice to put it out, and it hinders my eating and sleeping. It is a mysterious fire that comes from within, then goes to the outside. It is, however, a fire that does not torment me, rather it delights me, but it also exhausts and consumes me……Father, Jesus will make you understand everything about it. My great God, how I love You! Oh, how I love You!" -St Gemma Galgani