THE HEALING OF [the eyes of] GEMMA DI GIORGI [by St. Padre Pio] [Ecumenical]

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[Salvation]

THE HEALING OF GEMMA DI GIORGI

Among the many miracles of healing attributed to Padre Pio, some are so unusual and unique that they have been the subject of much discussion and controversy in medical circles. In these particular cases, the person who has been healed lives a completely normal life afterward, even though they continue to have all the physical symptoms of their illness. From a scientific viewpoint, they are still sick. One such person is Gemma di Giorgi.

Gemma di Giorgi was born on Christmas day in 1939, in the Sicilian town of Ribera. Almost immediately, her mother realized that her eyes were different from other children's eyes. The truth was, Gemma was blind. Her mother took her to a doctor who was unable to determine the gravity of her condition. She was referred to two specialists in Palermo. They determined that Gemma had no pupils in her eyes; that nothing could be done for her blindness; that her condition was inoperable. Gemma's family was desperate, but there was nothing they could do. Her parents often took her to Mary's altar in the church to pray because they felt it would take a miracle to heal her eyes.

A relative who was a nun, advised the family to seek out Padre Pio. Her advice gave the family a ray of hope. Gemma's grandmother asked the nun to write a letter to Padre Pio on Gemma's behalf.

When the nun returned to her convent, she wrote to Padre Pio asking him to pray for Gemma. One night the nun saw him in a dream. Padre Pio asked her, "Where is this Gemma for whom so many prayers are being offered that they are almost deafening?” In her dream she introduced Gemma to Padre Pio and he made the sign of the cross on her eyes. The next day the nun received a letter from Padre Pio in which he wrote, "Dear daughter, rest assured that I will pray for Gemma. I send you my best wishes.”

The nun was struck by the coincidence of the dream and the letter that followed so she wrote to the family and encouraged them to take Gemma to see Padre Pio. And so it was, that in 1947, the grandmother took 7 year old Gemma to San Giovanni Rotondo to see Padre Pio, praying and hoping all the while for a miracle.

On the trip from Sicily to San Giovanni Rotondo, Gemma's eyesight began mysteriously functioning.

About halfway to their destination, Gemma began to see the sea and a steamship and she told this to her grandmother. Her grandmother as well as other friends who were accompanying them, all marveled and began to pray. Still, the trip from Sicily to the monastery was very long and difficult. While Gemma's grandmother recognized the miracle that had taken place, she was still preoccupied by the idea of seeking Padre Pio's intercession in the matter. At San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio called Gemma by name before the child was ever presented to him. He heard her confession, and even though she made no mention of her blindness, he touched her eyes with the wounded part of his hand, tracing the sign of the cross. At the end of the confession, as he blessed her, he said, "Sii buona e santa.” (Be good and saintly)

The grandmother was upset that Gemma had forgotten to ask Padre Pio for the grace of a healing while she was in the confessional and so she began to cry. Gemma became upset also and began to cry. The grandmother went to confession to Padre Pio and in her own words, "I asked the grace for Gemma and I told Padre Pio that Gemma was weeping because, in her confession with him she had forgotten to ask this grace. I will never forget his soft and tender voice as he answered me with these words, "Do you have faith, my daughter? The child must not weep and neither must you for the child sees, and you know she sees.” I understood then that Padre Pio was alluding to the sea and the ship Gemma had seen during the trip and that God had used Padre Pio to break through the darkness that covered Gemma's eyes.” The same day, Padre Pio gave Gemma her first Holy Communion and again made the sign of the cross over each of her eyes.

When Gemma returned to Sicily her eyes were again examined by a specialist. The doctor, to test Gemma, held up various objects in front of her and she was able to see each one of them. She was able to count the doctor's fingers at a distance of sixteen feet. Gemma, even though without pupils, had her eyesight; she could see. The doctor declared that Gemma's eyes were in no condition to see. There was no medical explanation for it.

Many doctors from all over Italy requested to examine Gemma's eyes. This extraordinary cure, and the prophecy preceding it, aroused enormous interest in the Italian press during the summer of 1947. Gemma's sight continued to improve and she was able to go to school and learn how to read and write. She was able to lead a perfectly normal life.

Clarice Bruno, author of the book, "Roads to Padre Pio" met Gemma in May of 1967. Clarice said that despite the fact that Gemma's eyesight was functioning, she still had those foggy, strange looking eyes that are a characteristic of the blind. Clarice told Gemma that she was writing a book about Padre Pio and wanted to include in it the story of Gemma's miracle. Gemma asked Padre Pio for permission to share her story and he gave his consent. Gemma, due to the sunny and very windy weather, was wearing sun glasses on the day she made the request of Padre Pio. He commented on this. "Why,” he said as he passed his hand over her eyes,"are you wearing glasses? You see very well.”

Father John Schug, author of "A Padre Pio Profile" who met Gemma and interviewed her, also testified, "She looks like a blind person. Her eyes are sallow and lusterless, but there is no doubt that she can see. I saw her reach for a phone book, check a number, and dial the number without groping."

While the doctors could not all come to a consensus on the subject of Gemma di Giorgi's medical condition, the facts that can be definitely established are these: (1) Gemma di Giorgi was born with a severe congenital defect of the eyes; (2) before the prayers of Gemma di Giorgi Padre Pio were enlisted, her vision was either quite defective or altogether nonexistent; and (3) afterward, though the physical structure of the eye remained unchanged, Gemma was able to see normally–even though officially classified as legally blind.

So what must the conclusion be? Simply that while Gemma and her grandmother were traveling to San Giovanni Rotondo to ask for healing grace, the grace came to them through the intercession of Padre Pio's prayers before they had even arrived at their destination. God, for His own mysterious reasons, had wanted it to happen this way. Gemma has since traveled the world telling her story.

[Salvation]

This Sunday's Gospel is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind. I thought this story would also be inspirational.

[Salvation]

For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face; now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known."
- 1 Corinthians 13:12

Catholic Ping!

[Antoninus]

I’ve read this story several times. The intercession of Padre Pio is powerful.

[Salvation]

Truly an amazing story.

[johngrace]

Thanks for ping. I have personally had signal graces from this Saint. I smelled the fragrance he is noted for after prayers for his interession. Not all the time but when important message is seeked.

I just had an answer from prayer for My car title problem. It went on for months. I asked Padre Pio for Prayer to help with this problem. The sealed Padre Pio pic card and rosary next to Christ's picture fell off the wall. I thanked God. I got a call it was being sent to me. I then got it.

I get a kick out of the doctors. I remember my mother when my father had a stroke. The doctor came after tests to tell my mother that my father would never work again in this life.

Well, my mother was praying looked up and laughed. She told him are you now in the office of God. He was bewildered. She told him he has to he is the bread winner. With prayer my Father was back to work in a month. Despite the bewildered doctor. He lived another 20 years. Died in his sleep in the tv room chair in 1994.

Praise Jesus and Hail Mary!! AMEN!!

[johngrace]

"I ask you to love the Calvary of God, crucified in the darkness; stay near to Him and rest assured that Jesus is within your hearts more than you are able to believe or imagine."

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

[topher]

She had no pupils -- either before she was healed or after.

A medical doctor claimed it was impossible for her to see since she had no pupils...

[Salvation]

Scientists always wants to explain away the miracles, don’t they? LOL!

[Salvation]

Your mom sounds like she had a will of iron and heart overflowing with prayer and love.

[topher]

In this case, the doctor was not trying to explain away the medical -- this case of supernatural healing was confusing to him. For him, he was trained that a person without pupils could not see.

He had trouble accepting the change in the vision of the child because he taught it was impossible.

I don't think he was trying to explain away the miracle.

He just was trained that if certain medical conditions were true, then the diagnosis must be...

At any rate, there was a similar case recently in Australia. The mother gave kangaroo care to her dead who had died premature. The baby had been declared legally dead.

The mother was holding the baby one last time. Then the baby started to breathe. The doctor thought it impossible since the baby was legally dead.

It is an interesting story.

It is not so much that medicine refuses to accept these things -- it is more a mathematician trying to accept 2 + 2 is 5 type of thing. It just does not make sense to him.

But God can suspend Natural Law...

[johngrace]

Yes! Also knew her Savoir by intimate pray every day. She went to 9:00 o’clock Mass every day. Always had a bible to read.

[johngrace]

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”

“Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart.”

“Do you not see the Madonna always beside the tabernacle?”

“The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of the trial and in the exaltation after the combat. “

“Fear not because God is with you.”

“Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.”

“Who can assure us that we will be alive tomorrow? Let us listen to the voice of our conscience, to the voice of the royal prophet: “Today, if you hear God’s voice, harden not your heart.” Let us not put off from one moment to another (what we should do) because the (next moment) is not yet ours. “

“Oh, how precious time is! Blessed are those who know how to make good use of it. Oh, if only all could understand how precious time is, undoubtedly everyone would do his best to spend it in a praiseworthy manner!”

“The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain.”

[karnage]

Having studied quite a bit on Padre Pio, I have always found this story to be one of the most fascinating. This is not something that happened long long ago, lost in the mists of memory and legend. Over the decades, many doctors examined Gemma. They were dumbfounded by her situation - having no pupils and yet able to see. There’s a lot of documentation on this case - lots of video, much medical testimony. Powerful stuff...

[Bigg Red]

Oh, my Jesus, give me the grace to see all that I should see.

[topher]

The future head of the Jesuits, Father Arrupe, was a medical student at Lourdes when he witnessed a miracle.

That miracle was the source of his vocation. At that point in his life, being a medical student, he understood science.

He understood, I am sure, how natural law was suspended by the miracle he saw.

Sometimes it is hard to accept the supernatural.

If you see a saint levitate [many instances could be named], you and I might accept it, but others would on in disbelief.

Of course, the famous story of Saint Joseph of Cupertino was that he forbidden from levitating until they needed some bells hung in the bell tower. Then he obeyed the orders of his superior... And he hung the bells through levitation -- just by praying.

If that would be shown live on TV today, people would ridicule as some sort of trick such as hidden wires...

[johngrace]

True.

[diamond6]

Thanks Salvation for posting this... I have been praying for my father’s healing for six years.

[stfassisi]

I came upon National Center for Padre Pio while I was traveling through PA for work a few years ago.I had no idea it existed and it is in a remote area in Barto PA(I’m sure the Lord led me there anyway).

They have all sorts of items from Saint Pio that was in San Giovanni Rotondo there in the museum and I was even able to hold one of the gloves he wore to cover his stigmata and bring it with me to pray in the Chapel.You could feel the power in holding this holy glove. I have had many prayers answered through Saint Pio’s intercession and have been back to the center 2 more times and will be back this year again.

The miracle behind the center is amazing

Here is the story and miracle...

History of The Centre for Padre Pio
http://www.padrepio.org/Centre/History.aspx

After being introduced to the life of Padre Pio through reading a book, Mrs. Vera Calandra traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy in 1968 to meet the priest “who worked miracles.” She brought two of her small children with her, one very sick little girl named Vera Marie.

Mrs. Calandra had two audiences with Padre Pio where he blessed her and her children, placing his sore wounded hands on their heads. Upon their return to Pennsylvania and yet another consultation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Calandras were informed that Vera Marie had made “great improvements” and that her prognosis seemed good. The doctors had removed Vera Marie’s bladder during one of the many operations she had undergone prior to her pilgrimage to Padre Pio. Their discovery upon her return was a “rudimentary bladder” growing in place of the one they had removed. A Miracle!

While still in Italy, Mrs. Calandra knew in her heart what she must do. She had made a silent promise to Almighty God that if her baby girl were to live, the whole world would know of the greatness of Padre Pio. With the permission of the Friars of San Giovanni Rotondo, Mrs. Calandra began spreading his name in her small community in Pennsylvania. She began a Holy Hour in her Church, which met every 1st Saturday of the month, attracting upwards of 200 faithful every Mass.

Locally, people began visiting the Calandra home to obtain photos and prayers to Padre Pio, which the Friars in San Giovanni Rotondo had now made available. Hometown visitors began sending what few items they were able to obtain from Mrs. Calandra to relatives out of state and thus, the correspondence and large volumes of mail began.

The requests for programs and lectures started pouring in. Mrs. Calandra found herself on airplane after airplane, accepting these speaking engagements and keeping her promise to Almighty God. With the help and support of her devoted husband, children and staff, Mrs. Calandra has spoken in over 1,000 churches, monasteries, seminaries, colleges, universities and convents all around the world; accepting invitations from as far away as Asia, as remote as the Native American Reservations in North Dakota, New Mexico and Montana, and as close to home as the family’s Parish.

The National Centre for Padre Pio has been recognized by the Holy See for its spiritual work. Mr. and Mrs. Calandra have had the blessed honor and opportunity to have countless audiences with the Holy Father and to attend many Masses in his private chapel.

In 1987, Mrs. Calandra received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award, an honor bestowed by the Pope for outstanding work with the Catholic Church. On Sunday, May 2, during the Beatification Ceremony of Padre Pio in Rome, Italy, Mrs. Calandra was given the great privilege of representing the United States of America and was asked to read the first reading at the Solemn Mass.

In their capacity as founders and staff at the National Centre, the Calandra family annually hosts, educates and ministers to tens of thousands of devotees who yearly visit the center in Barto, Pennsylvania. In addition to the daily duties at the National Centre, the Calandras arrange pilgrimages to San Giovanni, as well as travel worldwide, spreading the message of the life, wounds, words and works of Blessed Pio.

[Salvation]

Thanks for sharing your personal discovery of the Padre Pio Center in the USA.

I’m sure many people are not aware of it.

[johngrace]

Thanks for sharing!! I will make that a pilgrimage!! Praise Jesus and Hail Mary!

AMEN!!!