The Diary of Saint Gemma

by St. Gemma Galgani

From 1899 until her death in 1903, the young Italian woman St. Gemma Galgani physically experienced the wounds of Christ every Thursday evening. The stigmata would appear and bleed on her hands, feet, and side, stopping only on Friday afternoon and leaving white marks as a reminder. St. Gemma also experienced countless visions, raptures, ecstasies, and other mystical graces — as well as intense temptations from the devil.

Here is the remarkable diary of this young saint, which her spiritual director ordered her to write. It will give you an enthralling glimpse into her numerous encounters with Jesus Crucified, with Our Lady, and with her guardian angel, whom she saw almost every day and would even send on errands, usually to deliver messages to her confessor in Rome.

You will witness St. Gemma’s courage in fulfilling even laborious duties while wearing the hidden crown of thorns, and you’ll learn what St. Gabriel Possenti, to whom she was especially devoted, taught her about the connection between bodily illness and spiritual healing. Moreover, St. Gemma will teach

What to do when you are mocked, tormented, or experience powerful temptationsHow to overcome the hesitation to receive Holy Communion due to scrupulosity, dryness, and desolationThe key to overcoming struggles in prayer How to remain faithful during periods of intense sufferingHow obedience will defeat the enemy and help you overcome sinful habitsHow your prayers and small sufferings relieve souls in PurgatorySt. Gemma was a laywoman who lived near Lucca, Italy. She yearned to be a Passionist nun, but her poor health prevented this. Instead, she was mystically espoused to Jesus and faithfully lived out the Passionist spirituality.

Genres: Catholic, Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Biography

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2022

Reviews

[gardeningmom7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t really know what to make of St. Gemma’s diary. I was uncomfortable and intrigued the entire time. Would never read again. But that’s hardly fair because I don’t think anyone would read my diary twice either.

[Elise Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one who struggles with scrupulously, self-harm, abuse, or depression should read this. I appreciate Saint Gemma’s intense awareness of how her sins wound Christ, but her diary is dark and violent and reads more like a story of an abusive relationship than an unconditionally loving one. I do not find it spiritually helpful to read at all. Sophia Institute Press should have published this with commentary.

[Lynn Fawcett · Rating 2 out of 5]

St. Gemma’s fidelity, obedience, and love for Christ are to be admired, but she’s pretty intense and the Average Joe should def take this with a grain of salt🧂
St. Gemma Galgani, pray for us!

[Clare Spelick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, thought-provoking read, I would recommend this to anyone anywhere on their journey of faith. Chapters are to the point and easy to read in a sitting with definitive stopping points. Galgani discusses difficult topics easily and in simple terms, never alienating the reader. Her experiences, though rather foreign to modern readers, are made familiar by her tone and expressive personality. Every Catholic should add this to their to-be-read list as it contains life-lessons anyone can learn from.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was tough because her guardian angel was so harsh with her sometimes. I wanted to get to know saint Gemma better and the diary is a good way. I didnt know how much she suffered.

[Katie]

I don't really want to star this. I didn't particularly like it.

[Karlie Keller]

“After a few moments I felt entirely happy but I was so moved by seeing myself, so little compared to her, and so content, that I could not say a word except to repeat the name ‘Mom.’”

[Gabrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book completely traumatized and confused me in my spiritual life and I honestly wish I had never read it. It started off fine in the beginning but as the book progressed I was just taken aback by how she is treated by Jesus, Mary, and her guardian angel. The more I reflect on it I can’t seem to grasp how this is divinely inspired. I pray that Jesus, Mary and my guardian angel aren’t so cold and mean as they are portrayed in this book.

I will share a few quotes that perplexed me.

From her guardian angel—“Yesterday, my Guardian Angel informed me that, in the course of the day, Jesus would come; he yelled at me, called me conceited, but then we made up quickly.”

“Today there’s one thing I shall do: I want to write a little note to Brother Gabriel; then I’ll give it to my Guardian Angel and await a reply. And we’re going to do this without Jesus knowing; he himself said we will not tell Jesus anything.”

“I saw my Guardian Angel approaching; he placed his hand on my forehead and said these words: “Sleep, bad girl.” I saw him no more.”


From Jesus-
“I asked enlightenment for my confessor; on that point, my Guardian Angel had tattled on Jesus. The morning before, he had told me how Father Germanus is enlightened about me and how he cares for me. I mentioned this to Jesus without thinking, and Jesus did not know that my Guardian Angel had told me this; He made a serious face and told me He did not want my Guardian Angel to tattle on Him.”

Mary-
“I said to her that Jesus had forgiven me, but she said: “I don’t forgive my daughters so easily; I absolutely want you to become perfect: we’ll see if Saturday I can come and bring Brother Gabriel.”


Her guardian angel yells at her many times throughout the book and I was just taken aback by how he continuously puts her down, and how he wants to hide things from Jesus, even though I’m pretty sure that’s impossible to do in the first place. The fact he called her an “bad girl” Also, Mary’s unwanting to forgive her unless she does what she wants her to do. And Jesus saying that he didn’t want her guardian angel to tattle on him. I didn’t think that her guardian angel could do anything without permission from God first? I’m just so so confused by this book and honestly taken aback. How is this even approved? (Not her sainthood but the diary itself). It has made me feel very unworthy to even speak to Jesus, Mary and my own guardian angel out of fear of being a pain to them because of how this book portrayed them. Like I said, turned my spiritual world upside down.

All of that said—I really feel bad that Gemma had to endure all of this. It almost made it seem like an abusive relationship that she endured

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a tough time reading this. She suffered so much and it was interesting to hear from a saint who had stigmata. She, in many ways, reminds me of St. Faustina, though I haven't finished her diary. Unfortunately, I feel more unsettled than comforted after reading this diary. I hope I can integrate some of her wisdom into my life, but this book kind of scared me in a way I don't want to read, or think about it again. Maybe that is wrong on my part; nevertheless, it is how I feel. This book is not for the faint of heart. I am however impressed at how vulnerable St. Gemma was able to be on paper for others to read, which is admirable and we should all strive to be able to tell others our sins and embarrassments in such a way so others can learn from us, as I'm sure others have learned from Gemma.

[M. Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short read, packed full of small journal entries of all of St Gemma’s mystical experiences and encounters with Jesus, Mary and her Guardian Angel. Some of the entries are disjointed, and the style doesn’t read as fluidly as a book, but the entries are still so captivating.

[Kelsey Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the lovely words through the eyes of a friend. It's so lovely to hear her story in her own words.

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a recent event with numerous saint relics, I felt drawn to Saint Gemma. So, I was quite interested in this book, in order to discover more about her. As with some of the other reviews, the book has left me unsettled. Gemma obviously was in incredible young woman of faith to become a saint. And it is incredible that this young girl experienced the stigmata. But her diary is difficult to understand for a modern reader. Another reviewer stated that Sophia Press should have provided some commentary. I wholeheartedly agree with this. Maybe a biblical scholar would be able to shed some light on the strange and confusing events and diary entries. I will continue to search for more about Saint Gemma.

[Crystal Buttimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful my hubby bought this book for me that's about my Confirmation Saint!

It was so Incredible to learn more about St. Gemma and encouraging to read about someone so close to and devoted to God.

I can only hope to have half the relationship with our heavenly father as she did.

[Br. John Mary Lauderdale OFM Cap · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great companion book to The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by Fr. Germanus. I would recommend reading Fr. Germanus' book first to contextualize the diary.