St. Gemma Galgani lived a little over a century ago in Italy and is one of a select group of saints who experienced the wounds of Christ on her body. In addition to the stigmata, she faced numerous physical and personal struggles throughout her life. She had a number of illnesses, including severe headaches, spinal tumors, and tuberculosis. She was a wonderful student but was forced to leave school because of her poor health. Other setbacks included the deaths of her mother, her brother, and her father, and not being allowed to enter the convent.
I wasn’t familiar with Gemma Galgani until recently, and I have to admit that reading her story both shamed and encouraged me.
