Veronica Giuliani
Encyclopedia
Saint Veronica Giuliani, O.S.C. Cap., (Veronica de Julianis) (1660 – July 9, 1727) was an Italian
Capuchin nun
and mystic
. She was canonized
by Pope Gregory XVI
in 1839.
in the Duchy of Urbino in 1660. Her parents, Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini, were both of gentle birth.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia
, Ursula showed signs of sanctity from an early age. It is told that when she was only eighteen months old, she uttered her first words to upbraid a shopman who was serving a false measure of oil, saying distinctly: "Do justice, God sees you."
At the age of three years Ursula supposedly began to be favored with "divine communications", and to show great compassion for the poor. She would set apart a portion of her food for them, and even part with her clothes when she met a poor child scantily clad. These traits and a great love for the Cross developed as she grew older. When others did not readily join in her religious practices she was inclined to be dictatorial. At the age of 16, she experienced a vision which corrected this imperfection of character: she saw her own heart as a "heart of steel", wiped the face of Christ with her veil. In her writings she confesses that she took a certain pleasure in the more stately circumstances which her family adopted when her father was appointed superintendent of finance at Piacenza
. But this did not in any way affect her early-formed resolution to dedicate herself to religion, although her father urged her to marry and procured for her several suitors as soon as she became of marriageable age. Owing to her father's opposition to her desire to enter a monastery
, Ursula fell ill and only recovered when he gave his consent.
branch of the Poor Clares in Città di Castello
in Umbria
, Italy, taking the name of Veronica in memory of the Passion
. At the conclusion of the ceremony of her reception, the bishop
said to the abbess
: "I commend this new daughter to your special care, for she will one day be a great saint."
Veronica became absolutely submissive to the will of her spiritual directors, though her novitiate
was marked by extraordinary interior trials and temptations to return to the world. At her profession in 1678 she conceived a great desire to suffer in union with our Savior
crucified
for the conversion of sinners. About this time she had a vision of Christ bearing His cross and henceforth suffered an acute physical pain in her heart.
, symbolizing the Divine Passion
which was to be re-enacted in her own soul. At first she shrank from accepting it and only by great effort eventually submitted. She then began to endure intense spiritual suffering. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown of Thorns
on her head, the wounds being visible and the pain permanent, and on Good Friday
, 1697, she received the impression of Jesus' five wounds
on her hands, feet and side. By order of the bishop she submitted to medical treatment, but obtained no relief from these wounds.
Although she lived a supernaturally mystical life, she was a practical woman of affairs. For 34 years she was Mistress of novices, and guided the novices with great prudence. It is notable that she would not allow them to read mystical books. In 1716, she was elected abbess
and while holding that office enlarged the monastery and had a good system of water-pipes laid down, the monastery up to that time having been without a proper water supply.
She died on July 9, 1727, at Città di Castello
.
She was beatified
by Pope Pius VII
on June 17, 1804, and was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839. She is usually represented in art crowned with thorns and embracing the Cross.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Capuchin nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
. She was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
by Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
in 1839.
Early life
She was born Ursula Giuliani at MercatelloMercatello sul Metauro
Mercatello sul Metauro is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 100 km west of Ancona and about 50 km southwest of Pesaro....
in the Duchy of Urbino in 1660. Her parents, Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini, were both of gentle birth.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
, Ursula showed signs of sanctity from an early age. It is told that when she was only eighteen months old, she uttered her first words to upbraid a shopman who was serving a false measure of oil, saying distinctly: "Do justice, God sees you."
At the age of three years Ursula supposedly began to be favored with "divine communications", and to show great compassion for the poor. She would set apart a portion of her food for them, and even part with her clothes when she met a poor child scantily clad. These traits and a great love for the Cross developed as she grew older. When others did not readily join in her religious practices she was inclined to be dictatorial. At the age of 16, she experienced a vision which corrected this imperfection of character: she saw her own heart as a "heart of steel", wiped the face of Christ with her veil. In her writings she confesses that she took a certain pleasure in the more stately circumstances which her family adopted when her father was appointed superintendent of finance at Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
. But this did not in any way affect her early-formed resolution to dedicate herself to religion, although her father urged her to marry and procured for her several suitors as soon as she became of marriageable age. Owing to her father's opposition to her desire to enter a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, Ursula fell ill and only recovered when he gave his consent.
Life in the monastery
In 1677 Ursula was received into the monastery of the CapuchinOrder of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
branch of the Poor Clares in Città di Castello
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, Italy, taking the name of Veronica in memory of the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
. At the conclusion of the ceremony of her reception, the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
said to the abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
: "I commend this new daughter to your special care, for she will one day be a great saint."
Veronica became absolutely submissive to the will of her spiritual directors, though her novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
was marked by extraordinary interior trials and temptations to return to the world. At her profession in 1678 she conceived a great desire to suffer in union with our Savior
Savior
Savior or Saviour may refer to:*a person who helps people achieve salvation, or saves them from something- Religion :* Mahdi* Mashiach* Messiah* Redeemer * Saoshyant* Soter- Music :* Saviours , a stoner metal band...
crucified
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
for the conversion of sinners. About this time she had a vision of Christ bearing His cross and henceforth suffered an acute physical pain in her heart.
Spiritual trial
In 1693 she entered upon a new phase in her spiritual life when she had a vision of a chaliceChalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
, symbolizing the Divine Passion
Passion
-Emotion:* Passion * Passions , emotional states as used in philosophical discussions* Stoic Passions, various forms of emotional suffering in Stoicism-Crucifixion of Jesus Christ:...
which was to be re-enacted in her own soul. At first she shrank from accepting it and only by great effort eventually submitted. She then began to endure intense spiritual suffering. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown of Thorns
Crown of Thorns
In Christianity, the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion, was woven of thorn branches and placed on Jesus Christ before his crucifixion...
on her head, the wounds being visible and the pain permanent, and on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, 1697, she received the impression of Jesus' five wounds
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
on her hands, feet and side. By order of the bishop she submitted to medical treatment, but obtained no relief from these wounds.
Although she lived a supernaturally mystical life, she was a practical woman of affairs. For 34 years she was Mistress of novices, and guided the novices with great prudence. It is notable that she would not allow them to read mystical books. In 1716, she was elected abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
and while holding that office enlarged the monastery and had a good system of water-pipes laid down, the monastery up to that time having been without a proper water supply.
She died on July 9, 1727, at Città di Castello
Città di Castello
Città di Castello is a city and comune in the province of Perugia, in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. It is situated on a slope of the Apennines, on the flood plain of the river Tiber. The city is north of Perugia and south of Cesena on the S3bis. It is connected to the A1...
.
Veneration
After Veronica's death a figure of the Cross was supposedly found impressed upon her heart, and her body has been noted as being incorrupt.She was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
on June 17, 1804, and was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839. She is usually represented in art crowned with thorns and embracing the Cross.
External links
- St. Veronica Giuliani at AmericanCatholic.org Saint of the Day
- St. Veronica Giuliani at Saints Alive
- Saint Veronica Giuliani at Patron Saints Index
- Incorrupt Bodies of the Saints at Catholic Apologetics Information