October 30, 2005
Mama Gili
In my review of interesting and saintly people, I particularly enjoy bringing you information about lay people who have outstanding reputations for holiness; one of the most interesting in Mama Gili. Dolores Immacolata Gili was born in Italy in 1892 and lived most of her life in the United Sates – first in Brooklyn and then in Orange, New Jersey. She was married to a difficult man who would not permit her to go to church, which was an extreme cross for her because she was a deeply devoted person. Eventually like a good immigrant wife she was able to influence her husband in a better direction. She accepted her cross of not being able to go to church as precisely that – a cross – and she developed a very remarkable prayer life at home.
Her husband died in 1931 and she had to provide not only for her children, but she also made her home a shelter of prayer and charitable work. Working two jobs and having a house open to all those in need, she managed to be remarkably busy! Her life was not just do-good-ism; it was a warm and loving shelter for anyone who needed it. In 1953 she went back to Italy and was introduced by a Franciscan to the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus as seen in the Shroud of Turin. This led her to organize hours of reparation and enthronement of the Holy Face and she became widely known, particularly in the Italian community, as an apostle of the Holy Face of Jesus. The pretender to the Italian throne, Prince Umberto di Savoia, visited Mama Gili in her home in Orange. She was completely bedridden for the last several years of her life, but accepted her sufferings and offered them for the Church, for the clergy, for married couples and for youth. She died on October 26, 1985. A movement has begun in New Jersey for the possible beatification of Mama Gili. You can find out a bit about her by typing Mama Gili in Google search on the Internet.
Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR
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