In honor of the recent (Nov. 1st) Feast of All Saints, I thought I would share with you my favorite saint, Gemma Galgani (1878-1903). Here is a letter that she wrote that I just LOVE.
“Often I seem to be alone, but really I have Jesus as a companion. I try to deprive myself of everything, but instead I find all. I shun all the pleasures of life, and I happen on one so great that I am utterly happy. I am always on fire with love, and I always want to love more. I suffer, and never have enough of it. I long to live and I long to die. I experience love, but my lover I do not understand. I cannot fathom him, being thus ignorant, still I can sense that he is an immense good, a prodigious good: Jesus.
I wish that my heart could beat, that I could live and breathe only for Jesus. I wish that my tongue could utter no other name than that of Jesus; that my pen could write only about Jesus, and that my thoughts could soar to nothing but Jesus. I have often wondered where on earth there might be something on which I could center my love. But neither on earth nor in heaven do I find any such thing but only my beloved Jesus.
Paradise is waiting for us. If living for Jesus on earth makes us so happy, what must heaven be like where we shall see him in all his infinite greatness, goodness and beauty? I hope for mercy from this Jesus, mercy for me and for all poor sinners. If I could, I would atone for all their sins and mine.
Let us recall that we are disciples of this Jesus who suffered so much. It is not enough to look at the cross, or wear it, we must carry it in the depths of our heart. Together, let us visit Jesus Crucified; let us look at him; he is lifted up on the cross. If Jesus is nailed there, let us not complain if we must stand at his feet. My poor Jesus! I wish I had a heart composed of all the hearts that love you most, so that I might show you my sympathy and help you. However, all the powers of my poor body, and all the love of my miserable heart, I consecrate to you. May it never be said that we would fail Jesus and leave him alone on the road to Calvary. Let us stay with him, not as far as Calvary but to the cross and death. Let us together rush to the cross, to new crosses. Let us put our arms around them and say: O holy cross, if we remember the immeasureable love with which Jesus greeted you, we would never part with you again.
I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds. O Jesus, seek me in love; I no longer possess anything; you have stolen my heart. I always say to myself that to love is to be in pain; you give the cross to the one you love. Treat me as your Father treated you. Jesus, compel me to drink the cup of your sorrows to the last drop; give me a little at a time. So Jesus, do not leave these poor sinners to themselves. I am willing to do something. You died on the cross; make me die too. These sinners are your sons and daughters. Since they are, do not abandon them. Jesus, I want them all to be saved. If you desert them, there is no hope. Must not I be the one to suffer for them? Then arrange it so. You have so many sinners, so few victims.”
-La povera Gemma
Basically, she articulates beautifully what I would say if someone asked me how I felt about where I am at right now. 
I love this letter of hers; part of me feels like I wrote it, especially the first paragraph about shunning the pleasures of life and happening upon one so great that I am just silly-happy over it, and also about experiencing love but not understanding my lover. I also love the line near the end, “I am the fruit of your passion, Jesus, born of your wounds.” How beautiful is that image? Oh I love St. Gemma so much. If anyone has a chance to read about her, DO IT; she is amazing, and to think that she died only 104 years ago? Our great-grandparents may have known of this remarkable girl! Heck, look above the post; how often do you get to see a photograph of a saint?
I love our Church. 
Who is your favorite saint and why?
