Millions of people around the world are suffering from back pain. For them, there is a saint whose patronage can be sought, and that is Saint Gemma. She has been commonly considered as the Patron Saint for the Pharmacists, for those who have lost the parents, those suffering from back aches, and those struggling against temptations and those seeking purity of heart.
Gemma was seriously ill with spinal tuberculosis in early 1898. Her back pain become so severe that it became necessary for her to wear an iron back brace. The disease progressed and she became completely bedridden and unable to move her head and arms. The spinal disease progressed for about one and a half years, until her miraculous cure on 3 March 1899, as a result of making a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To begin with, spinal tuberculosis and accompanying spinal tumors were diagnosed late because Gemma experienced a feeling of extreme repugnance at the very idea of medical examinations. She has described the details in her Autobiography:
“For a long time I had been feeling severe pain, but I did not want to touch or look at that part, because when I was a little child I had heard in a sermon that our bodies were the temples of the Holy Ghost. Those words had impressed me, and so far I have been able to guard my body. What an agony I suffered when I had to submit myself to a medical examination. Every time I had a doctor’s visit I used to cry. “
She has been hiding her illness until it became very severe. She has had severe headache. She became deaf. She lost her hair, and she became completely paralyzed. The doctor was sent for. Her Aunt, Elisa Galgani made good use of her authority over Gemma, as she knew that her sense of obedience was the only way to overcome her repugnance to seeing a doctor.
At his first examination, Dr. Del Prete found that Gemma had an advanced abscess in the lumbar (lower back) region. After the detailed checkups, it was diagnosed that, she was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine, a serious illness and very difficult to cure.
The first abscess was followed by another. It was lanced again and again and medicated glycerin was injected into. When Gemma heard that among other remedies the doctor intended to try the cauterizing iron, she asked him smilingly as if the question referred to some other person: ‘Doctor, are you going to do the cauterizing?’ During that operation the patient, obviously, suffers a great deal; but on the testimony of the doctors, Gemma never uttered a word, and bore the pain calmly and quietly.
She has been completely bedridden, and her days and nights were very painful. Such a condition lasted for a year. After the surgery, mentioned above, she had to wear an iron corset, which had to be ordered from a man in Pisa named Redini, who came on purpose to Lucca to fit it on. It was very heavy and uncomfortable according to Elisa Galgani–and Gemma. She wore it day and night; only her hands were free; was as it like being crucified?
In the early January 1899, she was completely bedridden due to the continuing debilitation of her spine, with little hope for recovery. As a last-ditch effort, on 4 January, the Doctors cauterized her in 12 places along her spine. This procedure did not help her, and her condition turned worse. Fearing that her death was near, she was administered Viaticum and the Sacrament of the Sick, on February 2nd, 1899
In her Autobiography, she writes-
“On the second of February I confessed and I received Viaticum and awaited the moment for going to Jesus. I heard the doctors whispering, thinking that I could not hear, that I would not live until midnight. Viva Jesu!”
To summarize the remaining part of what happened, she was miraculously cured with the help of Venerable (now a Saint) Brother Gabriel Possenti C.P. on 3 March 1899, the First Friday of the month, which is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, after making a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Br. Gabriel appeared to her, every night of the Novena, in a series of visions, encouraged her, and helped her to pray the Novena prayers. Concerning her miraculous cure in her Autobiography she writes-
“I sent for my confessor and made my Confession. The next morning I received Communion. What happy moments I spent with Jesus! He kept repeating to me, Gemma, do you wish to be cured?” I was so moved that I could not answer. Poor Jesus! The grace had been given. I was cured.
“My daughter” Jesus said, embracing me. “I give myself entirely to you and you will be entirely mine”
In the morning, she left her hospital bed for good; however, her spine and the surrounding muscles were not completely healed, and she continued to wear the iron back brace for two more months, until God in His goodness and mercy, chose to cure her completely. Concerning this, in her Autobiography we read that two months after her miraculous cure, she was able to walk, she made a retreat with the Visitandine Sisters (Nuns of the Visitation of Mary), hoping to obtain admission as a Nun in their Order.
“With the permission of the Mother Superior and the entire community, I then asked permission of the Archbishop to continue there; but he would not grant it, saying that my health was still so poor that I was wearing an iron brace on my back to hold it straight (I haven’t the slightest idea who told the Archbishop). The Mother Superior commanded me under obedience, therefore, to take off the back brace. I started to cry on receiving this command because I knew well that I could not do without it. I ran to the novitiate and prayed to my dear Child Jesus. Then I hastened to my room. I took it off, and though nearly two years have passed since then, I have never worn the brace again and I am doing very well.”
Therefore, those suffering from back pain or back injuries have a most compassionate and caring patron and friend in Saint Gemma!