Among the very smallest, purest, and best boys and girls, the Child Jesus usually chooses His pages (little crusaders) to accompany Him wherever He goes.
One of these children was St. Gemma Galgani, a saint of our times, who throughout her life lovingly recalled the first encounters she had with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament while she was still very small.
“My mother’s face, after receiving Holy Communion,” she would say, “became radiant with joy, and my heart beat faster when she drew me to her breast, saying:
— Gemma, come close to my breast to give a kiss to Jesus.”
From that age she never ceased asking her teachers and the chaplains to give her her Jesus.
They looked at her and smiled, for although she was nine years old, she was so small that she seemed barely six. At that time the Pope had not yet issued the decree on the Communion of little children, and full instruction and knowledge were required.
— Be patient, they told her, until you reach the required age.
But Gemma asked and asked without tiring:
“Give me Jesus, give Him to me… And you will see that I will be good; I will no longer sin and will behave well. Give me Jesus, for it seems to me that I cannot live without Him.”
These beautiful sentiments of such a pure and loving heart moved her superiors to hasten the happy and long-desired day and to satisfy her longing to press Jesus to her breast.
Gemma truly became, in her poor and humble life, a great saint who deserved the honors of the altar.
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