I was born on September 14, 1967 in Bristol, CT. I am happily married to my best friend Brenda, and together we have six wonderful children. I am a practising and devoted Roman Catholic, who intends always to be in communion with the Catholic Church and its teachings. My priorities are loving and serving God and my family. I have been working in the Computer tech support field since 1992, and I have been a Computer Help Desk technician since 1996.I was not always a practising Catholic-- up until age 28 I was very indifferent towards God, faith and religious practice, along with having an exceedingly selfish and self-centered outlook on life. But God is infinitely forgiving and kind, and in His great mercy and love He changed this foolish and poor heart of mine. -May He be blessed forever! I am still very much a sinner, but at least now I recognise and acknowledge my many faults, trusting in God's mercy and forgiveness.
I have a very special devotion to St Gemma Galgani, whom I consider my special patroness. Around the year 2000, I happened across an article about her on the Internet, and her special love and devotion for Jesus and Mary touched my heart immediately. I began to read some of her writings and I saw in her a model of love for God that I would like to have. I wanted to make her prayers my own, and her love for God my own. Her spirituality and intense love and devotion for Jesus and Mary struck me deeply. When you read her writings, you quickly discover that she was not a person of lukewarm devotion. Jesus was everything to her and her heart was all on fire for the love of Him, and out of this love for Him she had a great desire to suffer in union with Him, for the salvation of souls. To know St Gemma is to love her. It is impossible to read her writings and not be touched by the fire of her love for God. Also her photograph struck me- the one where she is looking directly into the camera, and therefore into the eyes of the beholder. There is something special about her countenance in the photo...it radiates love, peace, and a strong faith and devotion. -All these things drew me to her.
As I started to become devoted to St Gemma, a time came when I was interested in obtaining a relic of hers, to have her with me in a special way. I wrote to a number of Passionists, and one kind Passionist priest in New York offered me two relics of St Gemma. Remarkably, they arrived on St Gemma's birthday, (March 12), just as my family and I was beginning the rosary. It was Gemma, I believe, who arranged this "gift" on her birthday, as a sign of her friendship. And I received this gift with great joy. One of these two relics of St Gemma was a relic locket, which for years I have been wearing on a necklace, close to my heart.
Reading the lives of the Saints I believe that God places attractions and desires in our hearts, to lead us closer to Him. Gemma wrote about Jesus placing certain desires in her heart and she would say "..it is You who placed this desire in my heart" or elsewhere "Jesus gave me the desire..."
And I believe that God gives us a devotion to the Saints to lead us ever closer into His Sacred Heart. He gave Gemma a strong devotion to St Gabriel Possenti, and how much she loved and admired his holiness and virtues! She confesses that she prayed to him throughout the day, and she even wore a relic (his tooth) on a necklace for awhile. The Saints lead us closer to God by helping us to obtain the virtues that we lack, and they help us overcome our sins and faults. Perhaps the very Saints that God gives us are the one's who excelled in the virtues that we are lacking in, or who have overcome similar faults that we have, and thus we can especially benefit and learn from their particular example and heavenly assistance?
St Gemma had a great devotion to St Gabriel Possenti; St John Vianney (the Cure of Ars) had a great devotion to St Philomena; St Teresa of Avila had a devotion to St Joseph...the list goes on and on. I believe that for many people, God places a devotion to a certain saint within their hearts, so that the person may follow that saints holy example, and draw closer to the Heart of Jesus through the particular help and intercession of that saint.
In this site I will offer some of her writings which I hope will inspire others to a greater love for Jesus and Mary. It is my sincere prayer that through this website, God may draw you ever closer to Himself, through the intercession of Saint Gemma. Those interested in reading more about how I came to know St. Gemma and my devotion to her can read this article entitled "One persons devotion to Saint Gemma -Webmasters story."
This website is all for the greater glory of God. -Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!
--St Gemma Galgani, pray for us!
I enjoy hearing from others so please feel free to email me at: gdallaire1@gmail.com
May God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire
And I believe that God gives us a devotion to the Saints to lead us ever closer into His Sacred Heart. He gave Gemma a strong devotion to St Gabriel Possenti, and how much she loved and admired his holiness and virtues! She confesses that she prayed to him throughout the day, and she even wore a relic (his tooth) on a necklace for awhile. The Saints lead us closer to God by helping us to obtain the virtues that we lack, and they help us overcome our sins and faults. Perhaps the very Saints that God gives us are the one's who excelled in the virtues that we are lacking in, or who have overcome similar faults that we have, and thus we can especially benefit and learn from their particular example and heavenly assistance?
St Gemma had a great devotion to St Gabriel Possenti; St John Vianney (the Cure of Ars) had a great devotion to St Philomena; St Teresa of Avila had a devotion to St Joseph...the list goes on and on. I believe that for many people, God places a devotion to a certain saint within their hearts, so that the person may follow that saints holy example, and draw closer to the Heart of Jesus through the particular help and intercession of that saint.
In this site I will offer some of her writings which I hope will inspire others to a greater love for Jesus and Mary. It is my sincere prayer that through this website, God may draw you ever closer to Himself, through the intercession of Saint Gemma. Those interested in reading more about how I came to know St. Gemma and my devotion to her can read this article entitled "One persons devotion to Saint Gemma -Webmasters story." This website is all for the greater glory of God. -Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints!
--St Gemma Galgani, pray for us!
I enjoy hearing from others so please feel free to email me at: gdallaire1@gmail.com
May God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire
39 comments:
For some weeks now, I have the Picture of St Gemma beside my computer - I do not know were it came from, it is old and it looks as if someone tried to burn it. The angelic beauty of this Saint implores one to ask for her help - Everyday I now I find myself more drawn to her for help, protection and assistance in my needs - tonight I came across your site and I have now made your website my home page - Thus I will start with St Gemma’s protection as I log on. Thank you - your site is excellent - May God bless you and your family and I pray St Gemma intercede and the people elect a Pro Life President.
Hi Anonymous!
As I have said elsewhere, I don't believe in "coincidence", but only in the Providence of God in all things. That is why you have the St Gemma picture next to your computer the past few weeks and also why you visited this website.
May God bless you and yours.
St Gemma, pray for us!
-Glenn
Dear Glenn! What a beautiful blog. I am blessed to have a first class relic of St. Gemma Galgani. I love the prayers that she composed. I will use them often as my very own, but will always remember that they came from her heart. Blessings to you and your family in great abundance!!!
Hi Mr. Thompson,
It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for your kind comment. I am glad to hear you liked the prayers of St Gemma.
Yes, St Gemma's words and prayers really came from her heart, and I think that is why they are so beautiful and edifying.
May God bless you and yours,
Glenn Dallaire
Glenn,
You have such a wonderufl site! You know what? I want to learn more about St Gemma Galgani! I heard her before but through your iste she made an impact in me!
Just a question: how do a person know that he has a devotion to a particular saint?
I want to know my patronn saint too!
God bless! I'll be reading your site now.
Hi Jairus,
Thanks for your kind comments.
Regarding a patron Saint, I think that the Saint will inspire you in a special way, he/she will "strike a chord" with you, so to speak, perhaps through something they said in their writings or something that they did in life, and from that moment they will have a special place in your heart.
They become your "special friend", someone whom you admire and look up to; someone you want to imitate in their love and devotion to God.
That, at least, is what a patron Saint is to me.
May God bless you and yours!
Glenn Dallaire
I am so glad to find this site today (from The Curt Jester). St. Gemma is my confirmation saint, but I've only read sketchy biographies of her life.
I can't wait to delve in. Thank you for collecting this information in one place!
Hello Milehimama. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoy the website!
May God bless you and yours,
Glenn
My name is Fr. Todd Bragg and I am rector of a small Anglican parish in Indianapolis. I have had a great devotion to St. Gemma for a number of years now. When I was in the seminary, a fellow seminarian told me about St. Gemma, whom I had never heard about before. I did some research and found out about St. Gemma. I attribute my getting through the seminary to the intercession of St. Gemma Galgani. When I was facing difficulties in my seminary training, I would say a prayer to St. Gemma and implore her intercession. Each and every time, St. Gemma would never fail to intercede on my behalf. She always came to my aid. I have kept my devotion to St. Gemma over the years and I consider her to be one of the very special saints in my life. You have a wonderful, beautiful website and I am so happy that I was able to find this website. Thank you for all your dedication and hard work of behalf of our dear St. Gemma!!!! God bless you and your family!
Hi Father Todd!
It is a pleasure to meet you.
It is wonderful to hear of your devotion to Saint Gemma and how she assisted you in your seminary training.
Gemma's life and writings have inspired many people...it's really unfortunate that she is not better known in the U.S. and other English speaking countries...
-Hence the reason for this web blog.
So, I hope you enjoy the website and let me know if you have any suggestions.
May God bless you and be with you always,
Glenn Dallaire
~St Gemma, pray for us!
Dear Glenn,
A few minutes ago I send you an email using the one you give under your personal introduction, but apperently it did not work. So I came back trying to find out why and I discovered that you have this space where I can post this comment.
I hope you receive this note and that you will be able to let me know. My name is Fr., Claudio Piccinini, C.P. I am, as you can see from the letters after my name, a Passionist Priest living in Canada.
Not too long ago I discovered your website and I could not believe what I was looking at. I wanted to know who was doing it and this evening, or better yet, this morning, I finally discovered your identity.
The work you are doing and the way you are doing it is wonderful. I thank you an encourage you to continue. I know that you are doing a great deal of good by introducing St. Gemma to the English speaking people.
If it is possible I like to hear from you. My email is frclaudio@teopoli.org. We also have a website that you can find at www.teopoli.org.
I hope to hear from you. Once again thank you for what you are doing. May God bless you, your family and your work.
Peace and Love,
Fr. Claudio, C.P.
Mr. Dallaire, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You know what I'm talking about when I say this. I really appreciate what you did!
Thank you also for being a great example to others!
Dear Glenn,
Your website seems open the power of the Holy Spirit and the Communion of Saints: St. Gemma Galgani et al.
Recently I needed divine intervention to make it through the Church's process of evaluating and scrutinizing for the calling of the Bishop to the permanent diaconate.
My formation journey began formally in September 2003. Through out the formation process there has been discernement My discernment, my wife and family's discernment, and now the Church's discernment.
Some anonymous person suggested I find out about St Gemma. This was at the beginning of March 2009. I began the triduum novena to Gemma. I took her with me into "the board of scrutiny and admissions" interview; on March 18.
I am reading "The Life of Saint Gemma Galgani". I am in awe. I feel her present when I pray and speak with Jesus. Sometimes I can't tell between them.
I am an instituted acolyte. Each time I am at the altar, give Holy Communion, or am on the altar or tabernacle I take Gemma- spiritually and have her picture with me.
Presently I am awaiting the call to or rejection to Holy Orders in the permanant diaconate.Gemma will be my parton Saint in diaconal ministry to the immagrant, sick and dying,evangelization, and in religious education.
Please add me to your prayer list for intercession by St. Gemma Galgani to our Lord and Lady. My intensions are the call of the Bishop to Holy Orders, Ordination to the permanant diaconate, and unconditional service to Jesus and the People of God.
Ordination is set for May 9. I have not hear anything. This week may be the week.
frank2053@hotmail.com
Vivat Jesus
Frank
Dear Glenn,
Over the past 6 months or so, I have experienced an astounding conversion - though I have always been Catholic, my faith has been renewed and my love for Jesus set alight.
I have been meaning to thank you for some months now, as I feel that Saint Gemma, through your website, has played a big part in my spiritual growth.
Thank you so very much - for all your time, energey, devotion and charity.
Please keep me in your prayers,
God Bless you and your family,
Dolan
(PS. How do you pronounce Saint Gemmas last name? Is it Galgani or Galjani or something completely different?)
Hi Dolan,
It is truly wonderful to hear of your "reversion" back into the practice of your Catholic faith. I also went through a similar reversion back to the faith about 14 years ago, as you probaly read.
I am also glad to hear that you are benefitting from the website and St Gemma's extraordinary example of love for God. I pray and hope that she may be your special friend and advocate, and may she continue to inspire you to draw ever closer to our loving God.
Gemma's last name is pronounced Gal-ga-ni -both of the "a"'s are short, making a "ah" sound. The "ni" at the end sounds exactly like "knee".
Thanks so much for your kind comments. May God bless you and draw you ever closer to Himself, and may St Gemma be your special patroness.
-Glenn Dallaire
Sometimes there is no right words to express the sensation of Christ in your heart or even when He touch your soul.. When I saw the St. Gemma Galgani eyes, her look, I was stricken by God grace: started praying... and after all, I wanted to read again the storie and the St. events of St. Gemma Galgani and saying: St. Gemma, pray for us!
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your kind comments.
Indeed, many people comment about St Gemma's eyes...they are deeply spiritual and deeply penetrating.
I have received several emails from people who were completely drawn into reading her life and writings simply by looking at her photograph.
One recent person who belonged to a non-christian religion happened across a photo of St Gemma, and was drawn to her, and started reading all of her writings. He then went through RCIA and eventually ended up becoming a Catholic, coming into the Church on the Easter Vigil, 2010. He is very devoted to St Gemma, and attributes his conversion to her.
There is definitely something about her image in the photo that draws souls, and leads them to God through her.
-St Gemma, pray for us!
Glenn Dallaire
Hello,
I am writing to find out more about this saint? My husband has been unemployed for over 20 months and I have prayed for a miracle.
Sometimes we are at end but, I came across your website and decided to try again
God Bless
From ohio
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for your comments.
I am sorry to hear that your husband has been unemployed for 20 months and is struggling to find a new job.
Can I make a suggestion? You probaly have already tried a novena or two but perhaps you can make a triduum or a novena to St Gemma, asking her intercession in obtaining a new job for your husband. Many prayers have been answered through triduums and novena's to Gemma....St Gemma herself was miraculously cured after making a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus thru St Margaret Mary Alocoque.
-You will find a triduum and novena to St Gemma on this website.
I offer my poor prayers for employment for your husband.
May God bless you and yours,
-St Gemma, pray for us!
Glenn Dallaire
Dear Glenn,
I want to thank you for this wonderful site about St. Gemma, I love her very much. I found her picture "randomly" on internet and then your site and so I learnt something about St. Gemma.
I am a 38 years old Croatian woman und I live in Germany. This week in my breast cancer was found.
I pray for the intersession of St. Gemma for a miraculous cure to save my life. I want to live for my child Benjamin , who is 5 years old. I believe that St.Gemma can help me by asking the Mother od God and our Lord for me to get healthy.I would like to get a relic (third clas?) of St. Gemma, that would mean a lot to me because I have a lot of fear.
Please Glenn, tell me how to get the relict, what must I do ?
If the Lord wants me to get healthy I would like to have a baby girl,I want to call it Gemma to thank Gemma. I am wishing this very much and I hope that after the therapie a can /I am allowed to get a second child.
Dear Glenn, with you site I am getting hope in my heart, thank you very much for your great work. Please pray for me ,
I am sending you greetings from my heart from Germany,
Gabriela Petric and Benjamin
Dear Glenn,
I wanted to ask you if you ever have been in Medugorje, I believe in and love Our Lady of Medugorje very much like many Croatians. I will go there this year after therapy to ask Our Lady to save my life. I am praying that I will be able because of my health to go there, there are about 16-18 hours with the car from Stuttgart, Germany where I live. I am sure that Our Lady is appearing there. I believe also on JP II, he meant/means a lot for me in my life and ask for his intercession.
Dear Glenn,where i can get the novene or triduum to St. Gemma on in Croatian or German ?
At least please excuse my bad English.
Gabriela Petric with Benjamin
Hi Gabriela,
Thank you for your message and for sharing a bit of your life story. It is really nice to meet you.
I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I am praying to St Gemma, asking her to intercede for you that you may be cured, if it is God's will. And I pray that Gemma may be very close to you, and may she lead you ever deeper into the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
About obtaining a relic of Saint Gemma, please email me at:
gdallaire1@gmail.com
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Glenn Dallaire
Hi Glenn,
I was looking for a place to comment on the biography of St. Gemma that you recently posted. Did you transcribe the entire book yourself? Thank you and God bless you for making this treasure available to all of us who love St. Gemma. By the way, my 12 year old daughter is reading the Life of St. Gemma by Fr. Germanus, CP. Two of her classmates the other day told her that she looks just like St. Gemma. Pray that she will grow in virtue with Gemma as her guide!
In Jesu XPI Passio,
David
Hi David!
It is great to hear from you again....thanks for your kind comments.
It is wonderful to hear that your daughter is reading the life of St Gemma....what a blessing! My kids are not interested in reading the lives of the Saints, however they don't mind discussing them, so I have told them alot about Gemma over the years...
I am really glad to hear that you like Fr. Amedeo's book "Blessed Gemma Galgani". This book is a treasure of information on Gemma that is not availible elsewhere. What is more is that the English translation is so rare---it literally took me several years to find a copy in English. As Father Amedeo states in his introduction, much of the information comes from the "informative processes" that were gathered for Gemma's eventual beaitification/canonisation, all of which is in Italian and Latin. So they english translation of this information in his book is what makes it such a unique treasure. And so I spent many hours transferring it into a text file to be published onto this site, but I am very happy that I was able to do so. -All for the greater glory of God!
St Gemma, pray for us!
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Glenn Dallaire
As I type, I am cuddling our 5th child,our 3-month old daughter named Gemma. She is our own "Gem of Christ" and I'm thrilled she will grow up with a great intercessor in heaven--St Gemma. Thanks for this great site!
Hi Anonymous,
It wonderful to hear of your 3 month old daughter, Gemma.
I too have a little Gemma--she is now 7 years old, and is really a "gem"
-May God bless you and your family, and may Saint Gemma always be very close to all of you, and may she lead you ever closer to her beloved Jesus!
Glenn Dallaire
Hi Glenn,
PRAISE THE LORD.
Thanks a lot for this beautiful website. I am so overwhelmed that I don't have any words to express it at all. I only want to thank you a lot for helping me know more about my loving Saint Geema. Thanks for helping me brother,
How shall I pray to keep myself close to the Loving Lord?
Waitinf for your reply.
With lots of love and prayers for you and yours.
Christopher Rodrigues (chris)
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your kind message. Also, I received your email request for a couple of free St Gemma holy cards. I will mail them out to you tommorow, so you should be receiving them very soon.
I am really glad to hear that you are inspired by St Gemma's extraordinary love for God.
I think Gemma's "secret" to staying close to Jesus was love and prayer...she loved Jesus (and she loved others out of love for Him) and she prayed and talked to Him often throughout the day, and by doing so she remained always united to Jesus. This seems to be a key part of her spirituality and devotion.
Anyway, thanks again for your comments and may God bless you and your loved ones.
-Glenn Dallaire
Hello Glenn
I wanted to learn more about St Gemma because I have the same name as her and I'm about the same age she was. I find St Gemma very inspirational and I also want to be as close to God as she was.
Thank you for this website and all the information it provides.
~ Gemma Louis.
Hi Gemma Louis,
It is nice to meet you.
You are blessed to carry the same name as Gemma, and thus have her as your patron Saint. As you have proabley read, Gemma was a heroic and loving soul, and I pray that she may always be your special friend and advocate.
St Gemma, pray for us!
-Glenn Dallaire
please pray my husband is successful in his job interview on wednesday. he has been out of work for 30 months. thank you and god bless your work.
Hi Anonymous,
I pray for your husbands upcoming job interview this Wednesday. -May God guide and help him that he may soon obtain suitable employment for your family.
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
-Glenn Dallaire
I want to thank you for your prayers. My husband's interview went very well. We are hoping and praying for a positive answer after the 4th. God Bless
Hello I have written before. Please pray for my husband who has been out of work for over 30 months. The interview went well but he was not picked
Also my daughter is looking for a better job.She is also having some health issuestoo Thank You
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for posting an update...I was praying for your husbands interview and I am sorry to hear that he did not get this job, but obviously it was not God's will and of course He knows what is best. I will continue to pray that your husband finds employment soon.
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Glenn Dallaire
I want to say thank you for your prayers. My husband has just started a job. It has been long time. God Bless. I am from Ohio and wrote before.
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for posting an update...I am so happy to hear that your husband is now working! Thanks be to God!. I was praying for your husband, as requested, through the intercession of Saint Gemma. -God is always so good. May He be thanked and blessed always. St Gemma, pray for us!
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Glenn Dallaire
hello Glenn,
I have sent an email at your address. Best regards and happy sunday !
Pier Filippo
Sorry Glenn, it's Pier Filippo again ...
Reading your blog's text, I have just seen that St. Gemma is "Patroness of Pharmacists, loss of parents, those suffering back injury or back pain, those suffering with headaches/migraines, those struggling with temptations to impurity and those seeking purity of heart".
Well, I tell you the truth: my mum is ill from sept. 2007 - she is suffering of Parkinson, like has happened to the Pope John Paul II, now Blessed John Paul II !!
And until some days ago, I have had some impurity problems, since I am "internet-addicted".
Actually, I should have prayed St. Gemma since summer 2004, according to what has told me - in L'Aquila - by a Passionist priest, coming from Tuscany, named Fr. Narducci, but I had not been able to make suche prayers since I had been fallen in love and the girl related to such wrong love seemed me lookin alike St. Gemma.
Again, in the second part of 2008 (or 2009, I do not remember well), in a church in Ancona, I have found some pictures of St. Gemma. Finally, days ago starting praying for Mum St. Gemma I have found your blog ... after the 3-days prayer you have posted on line, I have started to look into your blog !
Then I wrote the email from pier73filippo@gmail.com; then I have been into FB to see if I could eventually join your FB friends. In FB, I discovered the other blogs - the one of the mystics and the one of the miracles ... finally, I have turned back here !
Jokingly, I tell "obviously" is all just a chance, but it is untrue!
Think just this: one of your young relatives is named Cecilia, exactly as my mother ...
God's Providence is something incredibly puzzling ... Funny, ... Exciting ... Full of Wonders ...
And, finally, think, tonight, talking by phone with Dad, I supposed Mum is better now (she is still at L'Aquila's hospital), because Dad's voice was relaxed and serene, while dayus ago, Dad has told me "mow we just need to rely on God's Providence".
Really, I have started praying some novenas (two to St. Gemma, one to Fr. Pio from Pietralcina, one to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one to Mary Mystic Rose, one to St. John Bosco) and the, just ended, 3-days prayer to St. Gemma found in yuor blog.
Sorry again ... I talk too much, but I cannot only apologize, I had rather better do not disturbing you with my words, haven't me ? ...
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