St Gemma was born in 1878 in Italy. She developed a vibrant prayer life at a very young age and was well known for her incredible kindness. She suffered from chronic illnesses for her entire life though at one point she was miraculously cured from one of her illnesses after praying to a saint who was in the process of canonization.

She received mystical apparitions for which she was frequently ridiculed but she offered up all her sufferings for the Lord. Gemma also seemed to be able to see and interact with her guardian angel, and she would hold conversations with him and join him for prayers.

At the age of 19, Gemma’s mother died and Gemma had to take care of her seven younger siblings. She was proposed to twice but each time she refused, preferring a quiet life of prayer. She was crushed that her poor heath prevented…