Eucharistic Saints

Gemma Galgani (1878-1903)

by Gary Penkala

As we continue with the National Eucharistic Revival, it would be profitable to recall those saints who had a special devotion to the Blessed Eucharist. Over the next few articles we'll study these saints, their lives, their devotion to the Blessed Eucharist, and music connected to them.

Life

Gemma Galgani was an Italian mystic, known as the "Flower of Lucca." At a young age Gemma was devoted to prayer and helping the unfortunate. When meningitis made her extremly ill, she regretted the hardship of those around her who cared for her. Prayers to Venerable Gabriel Possenti, a Passionist brother, led to a miraculous healing.

In 1899, Gemma was granted the unusual grace of the stigmata. Every Thursday evening, she would fall into a rapture, and marks would appear on her hands, feet and heart. The stigmata remained until Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. When the bleeding would stop, the wounds would close, and only white marks would remain in place of the deep gashes.

Gemma would also experinece ecstacies, and the words she spoke were recorded by a relative. She was known to have levitated as well. Gemma often saw her guardian angel, whom she sent on errands.

Saint Gemma Galgani was canonized on May 2, 1940, only 37 years after her death, by Pope Pius XII.

Devotion to the Eucharist

In her own words:

How precious are the moments of Holy Communion, 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.

With what loving care I prepare to receive Jesus. It is a question, of uniting two extremes: God who is everything and the creature who is nothing. God who is light and the creature who is darkness; God who is perfect sanctity and the creature who is full of sin. One cannot prepare for it too well.

Every morning I go to Holy Communion: The greatest and only comfort I have, although I in no way possess what is needed to worthily approach Jesus. The loving treatment that Jesus gives me every morning in Holy Communion inspires within me unutterable sweetness and draws to Himself all the weak affections of my miserable heart.

Related Music

1. Ave verum (Timothy Flynn) —
   This setting of the text, Ave verum, is dedicated to The Rev. Msgr. Bernard Reilly, rector of the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Lansing, Michigan.

   The homophonic choral writing is clear, clean and very logical, moving in half notes and quarter notes. The ranges are extremely comfortable, most stretching only slightly more than an octave.

   The organ offers very simple accompaniment, alternating at the outset with a cappella choral passages, playing under unison sections, and concluding the work on two whole note measures, ii7 and I in treble range. The organ part indicates strings and soft flutes, and the pedal part is ad libitum, meaning this could easily be played on a very small organ, even a continuo instrument.

2. Psalm 34 (Gary Penkala) —
   Psalms — with a CanticaNOVA twist! The music is based on the Eucharistic chant, Pange lingua gloriosi.

   The psalm has a unison refrain and set of verses with organ accompaniment. A melody-only version of the refrain is included for congregation use, and a version of the chant upon which the psalm is based is also included as a reference.

3. Prayer of Saint Francis (Gary Penkala) —
   Saint Francis' famous prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace," is the text for this easy 2-part accompanied anthem. It is a perfect vehicle to introduce your children's choir to singing harmony. Many of the phrases alternate between the voice parts, with the melody lines carefully and conveniently introduced. The organ accompaniment supports the voice parts throughout. This became a favorite with the girls' choir for which it was written.

Article written 19 August 2023