St. Gemma Galgani

#BelieveWomen

There is so much to say about St. Gemma Galgani. An orphan in bad health who talks to other saints, is transfigured to the Passion of Christ, and a stigmatist— so many interesting avenues! She also wrote poetry (it’s really good) and took care of her younger siblings, even the ones who made fun of her.

It’s pretty emo to meditate and unite oneself so fully to the Passion of Christ that you receive the stigmata (that’s wounds in your hands and/or feet and/or head like those of Christ). But what I take from her is that women get called hysterical whenever something extraordinary happens to them, no matter what.

The Catholic Church has said that Gemma really did receive the stigmata, but other people say she was just hysterical and the wounds were self-inflicted. Never mind that when the blood was wiped away from her hands that there were no wounds to be found! #BelieveWomen

We do this today, too. It’s not just something that women were sent away for in the olden days. This couldn’t have happened to her because, even though the evidence doesn’t support it, she’s just emotional. Or she’s just crazy. Or or or. Women are very rarely taken at face value and have to jump through more hoops than men have to jump through (if they have to jump through any).

Gemma shows us that, while that’s all true, there’s no need to fear not being taken seriously. We can fight for that through the gifts God has given us and continues to give us. It won’t be easy, but we’re used to that. Beautiful things come from labors of love.

St. Gemma Galgani, pray for us!