Novena to St. Gemma Galgani

Apr 2–10

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Gemma Galgani

Opening prayer:

O St. Gemma Galgani, who loved the crucified Jesus with a heart on fire and gave your whole life to His Passion, look kindly upon me from heaven. Take my petition into your wounded hands and lay it at the feet of your beloved Lord. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 1: Orphaned and trusting

Gemma lost her mother to illness when she was a small child and her father in her teens, left poor and burdened with the care of her younger siblings in the city of Lucca. Yet in every loss she clung to God as her true and only Father, refusing to be embittered by sorrow. Her early grief, far from crushing her, hollowed out her heart to be filled with God alone, who became her whole inheritance and comfort.

O St. Gemma, who in the loss of mother and father clung all the more to God your Father, obtain for all orphans and the bereaved a like trust, that in their emptiness they may find God himself to fill their hearts and dry their tears. Amen.

Today's intention:

For orphans and all who have lost those they love.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Gemma, victim of love and friend of the suffering, obtain for me the grace I seek in this novena, if it serve God's glory and my salvation. Above all, teach me to love the Passion of Christ and to trust His will in every cross. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.