How to format (gq) multiple selected blocks of text?

I want to execute the format command, gq, on multiple blocks of text
that I select. The best way would be if I could execute gq in ex mode,
that is:

:g/pattern1/,/pattern2/gq <ENTER>

But gq doesnt work in ex mode. I cant use an external program like
fmt, because vim, in windows, would launch a separate instance of the
cmd shell for each block - which I tried. I'd be waiting a while for
say 55 instances of the command shell!

Any suggestions?

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