St. Gemma Galgani (1878-1903) was born in Camigliano, Tuscany. Her mother, a devout woman, helped Gemma prepare for her Confirmation at 8 years old. Unfortunately, at the Mass celebrating her Confirmation, Gemma was called to give up her mother who died of tuberculosis not long after. The next year, Gemma wished to make her First Communion, because she was only 9, she was granted special permission to do so. After her mother’s death, Gemma was educated by Sisters of St. Zita at a day school.

In 1897, Gemma’s father died, leaving his children destitute. Taken in by relatives, the orphan fell seriously ill just one year later. She suffered a curvature of the spine, was paralyzed, and struck deaf. She had large abscesses on her head and her hair fell off. On her deathbed, she received a vision of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother who promised to pray a novena to the Sacred Heart with her. Miraculously, when the novena ended, she was cured.
 
Despite her recovery, she was still unable to obtain permission to enter a Passionist order as she desired because of the fragility of her health. Gemma nonetheless continued to live an intense prayer life. She experienced ecstasies and was even reported to levitate. 1899, at the age of 21, Gemma received the grace of the holy stigmata. Each Thursday evening, the marks of the wounds of Christ would appear, disappearing on Friday or Saturday. She is called the “Daughter of the Passion” because of her deep union with Christ’s Passion.
 
In January 1903, Gemma contracted tuberculosis. She suffered greatly and eventually died in April of that year, on Holy Saturday. She was beatified in 1933 by Pope Pius XI and canonised in 1940 by Pope Pius XII. St. Gemma Galgani, pray for us!