Letters to Father Germano—The First Year
Gemma Galgani
Now available in English, these are the first-year letters from the 20th Century Italian stigmatic and saint, Gemma Galgani, to her Spiritual Director, Father Germano.
In January 1900, twenty-one year old Gemma Galgani wrote a letter introducing herself to her soon-to-be Spiritual Director, Father Germano. The correspondence continued until her death, just over three years later, leaving more than 130 letters that provide a unique understanding of the ways in which God was leading a highly blessed soul through the last stages of perfection into divine union.
“But here I am at the point of writing, and I feel almost terrified, and do you know why? I’m going to have to describe things that are so strange that you will be very surprised.
The relationship was clearly destined—she’d been shown a vision of the Father in prayer— and after Gemma finally met him, the letters took on a more intimate tone. No longer “Most Reverend Father,” he was now “My Papa Who Is Next to Jesus In My Poor Heart."
“Some time ago I began to think of asking Jesus to show me what you looked like. He did not respond right away, but after a few days, while praying, I saw a Passionist who was also praying before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus asked me, 'Do you see Father Germano?' I looked and do you know what I saw? A large man kneeling with his hands folded. His hair looked more white than black.
As directed, Gemma reports everything in these letters she’s able to: her struggles and fears, her frustration at being unable to enter the Passionist convent, moments of shame or despair, her physical suffering and the appearance of stigmata, her seeming abandonment by Jesus and her joy when he reappears, sudden epiphanies, attacks by the Devil, feeling like a burden to her caretaker, Mrs. Cecilia, and more.
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