Detail Of An Antique Holy Card Of Blessed Gemma Of Goriano Date And Artist Unknown

Blessed Gemma Of Goriano

Also known as: Gemma of Gordianum; Emma of…; The Virgin of Goriano Sicoli

Blessed

Post-Congregation

Feast Day

13 May; 11 – 13 May (pilgrimage from San Sebastiano dei Marsi to Goriano Sicoli, Italy); 12 May on some calendars

Born

C.1375 in San Sebastiano dei Marsi, Bisegna, Abruzzo, Italy

Died

13 May 1439 in Goriano Sicoli, Italy of natural causes; miracles reported at her grave; body found incorrupt when exhumed; re-interred under the high altar of the church of San Giovanni in Goriano Sicoli; re-interred in a new church dedicated to her in 1613; re-interred in a new church dedicated to her in 1818; during World War II, a soldier began storing ammunition in the church; a young woman appeared and told him “Go away, this is my house.”; he went away; later in the war the front line, and all the fighting that went with it, was about to run through Goriano Sicoli; the villagers prayed for the intervention of Sante Gemma; six foot of snow fell, and the armies avoided the town

Beatified

1890 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmed)

Biography

Blessed Gemma of Goriano, also known as Gemma of Gordianum or Emma of Goriano, was born around the year 1375 in San Sebastiano dei Marsi, Bisegna, Abruzzo, Italy. She was born into a poor but devout farm family. Seeking better opportunities, Gemma and her family moved to the village of Goriano Sicoli, in the diocese of Sulmona, Italy.