Saint Gemma vs. the Temptation to Worldliness

It is striking, when reading about the saints in their own words, just how terrible an opinion they hold of themselves. But it makes sense: as sanctity grows, so too does the awareness of one’s own sinfulness.

St. Gemma Galgani was a mystic visionary who died at the age of 25 in 1903. Her intimate mystical union with Jesus afforded her a clear-sightedness and acute perception of how sin pains Jesus, and convicted her to root out her imperfections at any cost. She was unflinching in accusing herself of sin, and deeply remorseful for even the smallest offense against God. Gemma’s diary can have the same effect on the reader. …