Words of Saint Gemma:

“Let me embrace You, heavenly Bridegroom, source of all my consolations. Who am I, to speak so boldly with You? It is true, I am Your creature, but I am bad; It is true that I was made by Your hands, and those very hands, oh Jesus, I pierced with nails….
I got going to late, Jesus, in coming to You…..I found You, Jesus….I found You…I call You, I invoke You, because I am sure. -But where are You? Where are You hiding? I can smell Your presence. Give me wings, Jesus, to fly to your house in heaven.”

I was blessed to begin this beautiful Feast at the Altar of Saint Michael the Archangel at Saint Peter’s. The Passionist’s have had a particular devotion to the Holy Archangel in their Ritiri (‘Retreats,’ as their houses have been called).