The Christmas of 1939 brought a beautiful gift to the di Giorgi family: a little daughter, whom they christened Gemma. The family delighted in this newest member, although there was something unusual about her eyes…well, no matter.
By the time Gemma was three months old, however, her mother knew that something was definitely wrong with her daughter’s sight. She took the child to a doctor, who performed an examination and gave the di Giorgis grave news: Gemma’s eyes had no pupils. She would never see.
The family was devastated.
A nun urged the di Giorgis to seek the intercession of a holy friar who was famous for the miracles granted through his prayers. The friar was part of the Capuchin community in San Giovanni Rotondo. His name was Pio.
A letter was accordingly sent to Padre Pio, telling him sorrowfully of Gemma’s condition and begging for his prayers.
Then one night, the nun dreamt she saw Padre Pio approach her. He said, “Where is Gemma, for whom so many prayers are being offered that it is almost deafening?”
The next day, the sister received a letter from him assuring her of his prayers for Gemma. After this, she urged the di Giorgis to visit Padre Pio in person, with Gemma. The family was unable to make the long journey for years until, at last, Gemma’s grandmother took the seven-year-old child to the Rotondo monastery.
On the way, Gemma confided that she seemed to see some things. Her grandmother thought that perhaps she was imagining it, but they began to pray together for the miracle.
When they at last reached the monastery, the two received the sacrament of confession from the holy friar. In the confessional, Gemma’s grandmother explained about her granddaughter’s eyes. She asked Padre Pio for a miracle.
Gently, he replied, “Do you have faith, my daughter? The child must not weep and neither must you for the child sees, and you know she sees.”
Gemma then received Holy Communion from Padre Pio, who blessed both her eyes with the Sign of the Cross, saying, “Be good and saintly.”
Gemma and her grandmother returned home. And now Gemma was seeing things clearly.
Immediately, Gemma’s mother took her to an eye specialist. Gemma’s beautiful eyes still lacked pupils, but there was no denying that she could see.
The doctor examining her stamped his foot.
“Without pupils, one cannot see!” he said. “The child sees. It is a miracle!”
Many other doctors came to examine Gemma, and all had to conclude the same thing: inexplicably, her eyes had received the gift of vision as well as any fully-formed eyes. She had obtained an outpouring of grace from God through Padre Pio’s intercession.
Gemma’s life is just one of thousands which have been touched by Padre Pio’s holiness and powerful prayer. Today he is one of the most popular saints world-wide, and his intercession continues to work miracles. Grow closer to this beloved saint by learning more about his life and the miracles he gained for his spiritual children by reading the fascinating book Padre Pio: The True Story. Get your copy today at The Catholic Company!
