St. Gemma Galgani (1878-1903) was gifted with numerous apparitions of her Guardian Angel. The first apparition, however, was in the form of reproof.

Gemma received a gold medal for catechism from the archbishop. She also had a specially made frock, a necklace with a gold pendant, and a gold watch.

Gemma had looked forward to wearing these ornaments to please her family. However, one day, on her return home as she was taking off the necklace, she saw her Guardian Angel looking severely at her. He said, “Remember, that the ornaments of a spouse of a Crucified King are thorns and the Cross.” Her Guardian Angel then disappeared.

After the vision, Gemma immediately gave the ornaments to her brothers and said, “Out of love for Jesus and to please Him, I will never wear or even speak of such vanities.” She later wrote: “From that day forward, I have had nothing to do with them.”

For about a year, Gemma experienced the trial of spiritual darkness. She experienced repugnance for prayer and all exercises of piety. She also experienced weariness and sadness. Yet, in the midst of spiritual desolation, Gemma faithfully fulfilled her duties.

Another trial for Gemma was that her family did not understand her desire for greater union with God and her manner of life. They disapproved of her going to church both morning and evening and wished her to lead what they considered an ordinary life – to amuse herself, wear more fashionable clothes and go out more often.

In 1891, Gemma was given the opportunity to make a closed retreat. At the end of the retreat, she made the following resolutions: (1) To make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament every day and to speak to Jesus more with the heart than with the tongue. (2) To try as much as possible to speak of heavenly rather than of indifferent things.

In September 1894, Gemma’s brother Gino died. He was a seminarian, and before his death Gemma attended him night and day. When Gino died, Gemma was so overcome with grief that she became seriously ill and for several months came very close to death. Gemma’s father was broken-hearted. Gemma later wrote: “I cannot describe the care everyone took of me, especially my father. I often saw him weep and heard him ask Jesus to let him die instead of me.” It seems that his prayer was answered, for he died within three years, after three months of intense pain, whereas Gemma recovered from her illness.

Due to poor health, Gemma left the college and stayed at home. A domestic servant recalled: “I know that when at her father’s wish she left school and remained at home, she carried out her duties to the admiration of all and was occupied more with her brothers’ and sisters’ education than with material cares. I remember that sometimes she had to suffer much from one of her sisters. She never, however, was wanting in charity, nor became impatient with her … Gemma always liked to say the morning and evening prayers with her brothers and sisters. She used to take the younger ones to church, where every evening she taught them to say the Rosary and other family prayers.”

Gemma’s father, Enrico, was a generous man. He willingly extended credit to those in need, which got him into financial trouble. Eventually all his possessions were seized and, due to his great affliction, his health gave way. He developed a cancer in the throat and was in great pain. Gemma looked after him and made sure that he received the last sacraments in good time.

Enrico died Nov. 11, 1897, at age 57. After her father’s death, the 19-year-old Gemma became the acting mother of her seven brothers and sisters.

                                                    吉瑪領受試探 

聖吉瑪.金錦妮（1878-18903）的護守天使曾多次顯現給她，而第一次的顯現，是責備她。

吉瑪從總主教接受要理班的獎牌。她有一條度身定做的連衣裙、串上金墜的頸鍊，和一個金手錶。她期待穿著和戴上這些飾物，讓家人看到高興。可是，有一天，她的護守天使顯現給她，以嚴厲的眼光注視著她，說：「你應該緊記，受釘君王淨配的裝飾品，是茨冠和十字架。」神視過後，吉瑪把那些耀目的飾物交給弟弟，說：「為了愛耶穌和中悅祂，我不再穿戴和講論這些虛榮。」她後來又寫道：「由那天開始始，我再與那些東西無關。」

大概一年，吉瑪經歷靈性上的黑暗。她對祈禱善功感到厭惡，內心疲倦和哀傷；但在這靈修的乾涸期，她仍堅守本份。

另一次靈修上的試探，是吉瑪得不到家人的諒解，不明白她所作所為和她與天主更緊密結合的渴望；於是不讚同她每天早晚去聖堂，想她過他們認為是平常的生活—-去娛樂、穿著時尚的衣裝、和多些外出。

1891年經過一個關閉式的退省，吉瑪寫下她的決定：1. 每天朝拜聖體，用內心和耶穌交談，而不是流於口舌的交談；2. 我嘗試每當說話時，設法少談其它話題，多說有關天上的事。

1894年9月，吉瑪的一個當修生的兄弟、哲諾病逝。哲諾死前，吉瑪日夜照料他。哲諾死後，吉瑪過度傷心而染了大病，幾個月在死亡邊沿掙扎，她父親更是憂心欲絕。吉瑪憶錄：「我真不知道如何描述每個人對我的關愛、尤其是我的父親。我常看到他飲泣，祈求耶穌准許他代替我死去。」看來這天主接納了這父親的祈求，他在三年內經過三個月的劇痛便病故。吉瑪卻漸漸痊癒過來。

身體的潺弱逼使吉瑪退學，留在家中。一名家庭僕人回憶道：「我明白當她因父親的意思離開學校並留在家中，她令人讚嘆地克盡本份，專注弟妹的訓育多於兼顧物質的事。我記得有時她從其中一位妹妹忍受了很多苦。但她從不缺乏愛德，也從不失去忍耐 ….吉瑪時常喜歡和弟妹們一起唸早晚課。她會帶較幼小的弟妹去聖堂，在黃昏時教授他們唸玫瑰經和其它家庭禱文。」

吉瑪的父親、艾力.金錦彌是個非常慷慨的人，卻因幫助別人反使自己陷入極度的財困，最終被封奪所有家產；面對折磨，艾力健康日益走下坡，喉癌令他傷痛加劇。吉瑪隨侍在側，衣不解帶，最後確保父親適時領受臨終聖事。1897年11月11日，艾力與世長辭。自那時開始，十九歲的，吉瑪肩負起母親之職，全面照顧七個弟妹的責任。