See also:
General Audience of His Holiness
Benedict XVI about St. Veronica Giuliani
Shrine of St. Veronica Giuliani:
Via XI Settembre 21/A; 06012 Cittá di
Castello (PG), Italia.
Her
incorrupt body may be found
here.
Born at Mercatello in the Duchy of Urbino, Italy, 1660; died
at Citt' di Castello, 9 July, 1727. Her parents, Francesco
Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini, were both of gentle birth.
In baptism she was named Ursula, and showed marvelous signs
of sanctity. When but 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 she began to be favoured
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. In her sixteenth year this imperfection of
character was brought home to her in a vision in which she
saw her own heart as a heart of steel. 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 convent,
Veronica fell ill and only recovered when he gave his
consent.
In
1677 she
was received into the convent of the Capuchin Poor Clares in
Citt' di Castello, 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." She became absolutely submissive to the will
of her 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 Saviour 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. After her death the figure of
the cross was found impressed upon her heart. In 1693 she
entered upon a new phase in her spiritual life, when she had
a vision of the chalice symbolizing the Divine Passion which
was to be re-enacted in her own soul. At first she shrank
from accepting it and only be great effort eventually
submitted. She then began to endure intense spiritual
suffering. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown
of Thorns, the wounds being visible and the pain permanent.
By order of the bishop she submitted to medical treatment,
but obtained no relief. Yet, although she lived in this
supernaturally mystical life, she was a practical woman of
affairs. For thirty-four years she was novice-mistress, and
guided the novices with great prudence. It is noticeable
that she would not allow them to read mystical books. In
1716 she was elected abbess and whilst holding that office
enlarged the convent and had a good system of water-pipes
laid down, the convent hitherto having been without a proper
water supply. She was canonized by Gregory XVI in 1839. She
is usually represented crowned with thorns and embracing the
Cross.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913 by the
Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
Electronic version copyright © 1996 by New Advent, Inc.
Taken from the New Advent Web Page
