ST. Gemma Galgani (1878-1903) was a beautiful Italian laywoman who was born near Lucca, lived in obscurity, died at only 25, and yet has become known the world over and is fondly called "The Gem of Christ." Orphaned at seven, she had nonetheless been well schooled in spirituality by her holy mother, and from that early foundation in the Faith, she quickly rose to the highest stages of sanctity and is considered by authorities on spirituality to have advanced through all nine of the classic stages of growth in holiness-which the author briefly but beautifully describes. Written by her spiritual director shortly after her death, The Life of St. Gemma Galgani is the primary source of information about this holy girl-of whom a great deal is known, because of her own writings and because her director wrote this present biography from first-hand knowledge about her. A mystic, stigmatist, visionary, ecstatic, victim soul, discerner of spirits, seer of hidden things, prophetess, spouse of Christ, zealot for souls, devotee of the Poor Souls in Purgatory, St. Gemma Galgani seemed to possess every hallmark of sanctity-and that to a marked degree. Ever humble, quiet and dignified, she detested "singularity" and contented herself with attending church only twice a day-in the morning, when she heard two Masses and received Holy Communion, and in the evening for Vespers. Outside of her family circle, no one realized she was extraordinary. But the family members with whom she lived knew, for they had all witnessed her frequent ecstasies, sufferings of the Passion of Our Lord, unusual mystical phenomena, and being incessantly harassed by the devil, right up to the end of her life. Though she kept her eyes downcast most of the time, St. Gemma was exquisite to behold, and others often found it hard to look her directly in the eye and yet withstand her gaze. Frequently, the Blessed Mother or Our Lord would appear to her, and she saw and conversed almost continuously with her Guardian Angel. Her spiritual director was convinced she had never committed a mortal sin or even a purposeful venial sin. In fact, she was so sensitive to sin that she would sweat blood on hearing God blasphemed. Her heart during ecstasy would often palpitate so greatly that it would rock her bed or chair, though she herself remained tranquil in mien. Three of her ribs were "bent" at right angles because of the exuberance of her heart during these ecstasies. And at death her heart was discovered to b