The Diary of Saint Gemma

Great read

Wonderful spiritual book. Very inspiring!

A Saint for our times!

Loved the book and learned much!

I was elated to learn that Sophia Institute Press released The Diary of Saint Gemma over the summer this year, partly because the idea of reading Saint Gemma’s own words was enticing, and partly because I had no idea that Saint Gemma had left anything at all in writing!The Diary of Saint Gemma does include her diary in Part Two of the book, however it also includes her autobiography in Part One, which helps orient the reader to a broad overview of her life.As I read Part One, I was struck at the similarities between her autobiography and that of Saint Therese of Lisieux, in that both were instructed to write their life-story by a superior, and that both lost their mothers early on. Both spent time living with relatives following their mothers’ deaths. Both suffered from illness as growing children, and both confessed to being rather difficult—although their descriptions of themselves as regular, active children make me smile.Saint Gemma’s description of her own vices and failures paint a picture of a difficult, energetic, and impulsive child—not the description one would expect from a holy saint. It is this very description, though, that endears herself to her readers because she is so relatable: if you don’t see yourself in her, you definitely know someone like her!An interesting note: the pages of her original autobiography have burn marks on the edges because they were singed in a fire. It is said that the Enemy didn’t want her life experience to be shared and threw her notebook in the fireplace of her spiritual director. Luckily, the pages were spared and her story is preserved.Reading Part Two offers simple insights into daily life that help the reader along his or her own faith journey: this isn’t a heady, philosophical treatise on spirituality, but an accompanying of a fellow Christian along the path of life. The included part of her diary covers a few months during the year 1900—mid-July through the beginning of September—and I wonder whether this is an excerpt or the entirety of her diary. She remarks frequently that she wrote this, too, as an assignment from her spiritual director and her confessor, so it is possible that it was a cursory exercise.Regardless, we experience Gemma’s struggles with holiness as we live the same struggles and insecurities. But, oh, what insecurities! During these few weeks, she is specifically developing her commitment to obedience, to praying for the Souls in Purgatory, and to increasing her own humility.More than development of virtue, Saint Gemma details her ecstatic visions of Jesus and Mary, as well as Brother Gabriel, and her deep friendship with her Beloved Guardian Angel. Saint Gemma is consoled by these close relationships as she suffers torment and temptation from spiritual warfare. It is clear throughout that making a good Confession and the reception of the Holy Eucharist are integral to a life of peace and unity with Jesus.Reading The Diary of Saint Gemma offers us a fresh look at personal spirituality. Saint Gemma reminds her readers—literally her superiors, but now us in the modern world—that we should read her life experience with a grain of salt: “Whoever reads these things, I repeat again, should not believe because they are all my imagination” (145). But her words speak so much truth and depth that I can’t help but see my own prayer life anew. I intend to pray more out of bed, and to develop a closer relationship with my Guardian Angel. I encourage you to read this wonderful book and wonder—what will your take-away be?

Easy read but challenging concepts to understand

Very engaging book on the interior life of Saint Gemma! Her interactions with her Guardian Angel and the outside world encourage one to ponder our own interior life through the example of this saint’s deep faith.

I've read quite a few diaries, biographies, autobiographies of Saints. This particular Saint is difficult. Despite the many, many graces she claims to have received, she (by her own repeated admissions) would again refuse to say certain prayers (as a cradle Catholic these prayers should've been so familiar), would forget to hold to resolutions, would hide things from her confessor (timidity? she'd be fibbing to him?). She admitted often being cold of heart and unmoved, yet other times she weeps freely and is capable of passionate feelings. Even after a miraculous cure, being visited by St. Gabriel, and claiming to have received the Stigmata, St. Gemma continues wrestling with the basics, "back-sliding," etc. Maybe she was autistic or had a learning / personality disorder? Maybe all of her self-critical comments were exaggeration as in the "I am the worst of sinners" sentiment Christians are to espouse? I read to be inspired, while being fully aware that Saints were just as human as I. And yet, because of St. Gemma's inconstancy, I'm only perplexed. She is at rest in the loving arms of Christ, and I'm moving on in my reading.

I was fascinated to learn about this young saint and purchased the book when given some birthday money by an associate. The intro started promisingly - fascinating story - but then the first section was very drawn out and slow. Section 2 picked up somewhat but I was left alarmed about the experiences that Gemma states in her diary. Spoiler alerts- she states she had regular visits from "Jesus", "Mary", her "guardian angel", a monk, and demons. Unsure if its her naivety, but she seems to have been misled by who or what actually visited. Her spiritual director (it seems) didnt witness her alleged stigmatas every Thursday and said he needed to see instead of believing tales. The conversations with entities supposedly the holy mother for example (who states "i am not as forgiving as my son"...hmm) and other visitors comments - out of character for the divine figures. It would be interesting to read a full biography of Gemma and commentaries on what the spiritual director actually thought beyond the intro or a comment here or there in her daily diary. Overall it would be interesting to see the Canonical findings documentation on how she was made a saint also. I scored it a 2 out of 5. The fruits did not sound promising though at the end she prays for the Holy Souls in Purgatory at "Jesus" request.