Gemma had the most passionate love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. On the day of her first Communion she remarked: "I feel I am burning. I feel there is a fire kindled in my heart." This fire never went out, but in time became a devouring flame, so that one day the saintly girl could exclaim: "I feel love will finally conquer me, and that my soul, unable to love Jesus enough here on earth, will be in danger of being separated from my body. How blessed to love Jesus alone .... Oh father, if you could say in a few days time: 'Gemma was a victim of love and died of love.' What a blessed death! I would wish to be dissolved and that my heart might become ashes so that all could say: 'The heart of Gemma has been consumed by Jesus.' "
One day, while speaking of an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Gemma wrote: "Jesus is such a sweet irresistible Lover; how can one fail to love Him with one's whole heart and soul? How can one not wish to be wholly absorbed in Him, and consumed in the flames of His holy love?”
"How precious are the moments of Holy Communion," she exclaims, "they can only be compared to the beatitude enjoyed by the saints and angels. They behold the face of Jesus and know they cannot sin any more, and can never lose Him again, for these two things I envy them and would wish to be of their company. But for the rest I have reason to rejoice, because every day Jesus comes into my heart; Jesus gives His whole self to me.” In one of her ecstasies she said: "Jesus, listen to what my confessor asks me, 'What do you do, Gemma, while you are before Jesus ?' 'What do I do? When I am with Jesus Crucified I suffer, and when I am with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I love.' "
And when the shadow of evening began to fall, and her life hastened to its ending, even with a temperature at 104 degrees, this heroic girl got up and dragged herself to Church to receive the Jesus she loved so ardently. She would implore Jesus to give her the strength to get up, even if in exchange He increased her pain a hundredfold: "To an affectionate Lover like You, Lord, many entreaties are not needed. You understand at the first word. Then say 'Yes' and I shall come."
"Ah, what, then, do You ask of me? Love? I love You; for You are my benefactor, my Creator, my Preserver… Because You are the Spouse of my soul, I look always for You; I look for Your affection, Your friendship, Your glory. If You help me I shall never seek anything else. How Your sweet voice sets my soul aflame! And what do You receive from my ingratitude? Perhaps I am united with You corporally but what about my heart? No, no, my heart is Yours. You, Jesus, are a King, strong and generous, who sends me into battle, but You always give the victory. Give me the grace to listen to Your voice, so that I may love You with tender affection."
Dellaire, Glenn. “St. Gemma and the Blessed Sacrament – Her Love for Holy Communion” St. Gemma Galgani. 2010. https://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2010/09/st-gemma-and-blessed-sacrament-her-love.html
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