Saint Gemma Galgani (1878-1903) was born in Lucca, an Italian village, and from an early age showed a great desire for prayer thanks to her mother. Her mother died early from tuberculosis and Gemma's father left her in the care of the boarding school run by the Sisters of St. Zita.

After much insistence, she received her First Holy Communion at the age of nine. She used to say: "Give me Jesus... and you will see how good I will be. I'm going to change a lot.

Years later, when she was 19, her father died and, unfortunately, the managers of her company did not know how to manage the money, so they lost everything, leaving her and her siblings in poverty.

Suffering became part of his life. He developed a serious back disease and also contracted meningitis; soon his arms and legs began to become paralysed. It was then that he became attached to St. Gabriel Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows (then Venerable) and began to see him every night at his bedside.

One night, when he thought his death was near, he heard the sound of a rosary beads moving; it was the saint. She asked him to make a novena in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to obtain healing. At the end of nine days, Gemma stood up to the joy and amazement of all.

Gemma harboured in her heart the idea of giving herself to religious life, but the Lord had other plans for her. One day, while she was thinking about this, she began to pray and suddenly went into an ecstasy, feeling a deep sorrow for her sins. It was then that the Virgin Mary appeared to her and said: "My son Jesus loves you beyond measure and wishes to give you a grace. I will be a Mother to you. You will be a true daughter.

It was then that he saw Jesus with all his wounds burning and the flames quickly reached his hands, his feet and his heart. ‘I felt I was dying and would have fallen to the ground if my Mother had not held me while I remained under her mantle’.

Gemma says that she remained in this position for several hours and when she finished, she fell to her knees, feeling severe pain in her hands, feet and heart.

Gemma had very enriching experiences with her Guardian Angel; most likely her purity attracted her faithful guardian and they had long conversations. Together they recited various prayers and psalms, as well as meditating on the Passion of Christ. It was then, in 1902, that Gemma offered herself to God as a victim for the salvation of souls. Her stomach would not accept any food, and after a while she began to cough up blood.

Along with this, there began an intense period of spiritual dryness in her soul, with attacks from the devil himself. He tried to convince her that God had abandoned her, and when he failed, he sometimes attacked her physically.

His body grew weaker and weaker until, on 11 April 1903, when he had no strength left, he asked for a viaticum:

Her body grew weaker and weaker until, on 11 April 1903, when she had no strength left, she asked for a viaticum:

Gemma smiled and turned her head to one side, taking her last breath. She was 25 years old.