GEMMA OF SULMONA, VIRGIN AND ANCHORESS - 12 MAY

 

GEMMA OF SULMONA, VIRGIN AND ANCHORESS 

Gemma is venerated at Sulmona (old Sulmo, Ovid's native city). Her body rests in St John's Church there, which is also named after her by the local people. She lived at the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century and was the daughter of poor people who made a living by herding cattle. They gave the child a godly upbringing. It was her one and supreme desire to please God alone.

Although for this reason she did not take care of her appearance more than usual decency required, at the age of twelve she had the misfortune of attracting the eyes of a wealthy voluptuous man who had her taken by force and brought to his castle. With God's help, however, she withstood the grave danger so well that  her kidnapper was impressed. He then arranged for a cell for Gemma to be erected, where she could serve her divine Bridegroom. This cell was located near St John's Church in Sulmona, in which she locked herself. 

Here she served the Lord Jesus Christ for 42 years. When she fell seriously ill after this period, she received the holy sacraments in anticipation of her impending death. She gave up the ghost while kneeling on the ground during thanksgiving and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Her happy death occurred about the year 1429. At her intercession, God bestowed so many graces on the faithful that, one year after her passing, Gemma's mortal remains were moved to the church itself. (I. 182.)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations