Saint of Today: St. Veronica Giuliani

Saint of Today: St. Veronica Giuliani

She was born in the year 1660 in Italy. Her baptismal name was Ursula Giuliani. Her parents were Francesco Giuliani and Benedetta Mancini. It is said that her first words when she was about two years of age were 'Do justice, God sees you', said to a crooked merchant. From her early age she began to show great compassion towards the poor and used to set apart a portion of her meal to the poor people. She even gave her clothes when she saw poor children with torn dress.

She entered the Capuchin branch of the Poor Clares in Citta-di-Castello in Umbria, Italy, on July 17, 1677 and took the name 'Veronica'. She was very submissive towards her spiritual directors and did all menial works given to her with happiness. In the beginning she worked in the kitchen and in sacristy and also worked as the porters in the Monastery. She became the Novice Mistress when she was 34 years and later became Abbess and worked for about 11 years. The marks of the crown of thorns appeared miraculously on her forehead in 1694 and the five wounds corresponding to the wounds of Jesus due to crucifixion, also appeared on her body in the year 1697.

The bishop removed her from the ordinary community life and put her under constant observation. On discrete observation, the bishop decided that the phenomena happened to Veronica were authentic and allowed her to the normal community life. She died of a stroke caused by a brain hemorrhage at age 67 and died on July 9, 1727. Her heart was examined after her death, which showed miraculous images of a cross, crown of thorns and chalice, as told by her when she was alive. Close examination of her body also revealed a curvature of the right shoulder as if she had carried a heavy cross.

She was beatified by Pope Pius-VII on June 17, 1804 and canonized by Pope Gregory-XVI on May 26, 1839.