St. Juliana Falconeri

Saint of the Day

Juliana Falconieri was born in Florence, Italy in 1270. Her family was wealthy and active in the affairs of the city. When Juliana’s father died, her uncle, Alessio Falconieri, helped take care of her. Alessio had dedicated his life to God and was one of the founders of the Servants of Mary (the Servites). His vocation had a profound effect on Juliana and she, too, began to wear the habit and serve the poor. At the young age of sixteen she became a Servite Tertiary. After her mother died in 1204, Juliana gathered like-minded women, wrote a rule, and founded the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites. Juliana and her sisters offered fasting and many sacrifices in atonement for the violence that was common in Florence during the Middle Ages. Towards the end of her life, Juliana became ill and was unable to eat solid food. Eventually she was unable to swallow any food. This made it impossible for her to receive the Holy Eucharist. As her death drew near, a priest came to administer Last Rites and give her Viaticum. Juliana asked for a corporal to be spread across her chest and the Blessed Sacrament was placed there, close to her heart. When Juliana died, the Sacred Host disappeared! On Juliana’s chest, at the place where the Blessed Sacrament had rested, appeared a cross similar to the one that had been on the host. The Servites continue to include this symbol of the Eucharistic miracle on their religious habit. St Juliana Falconieri died in 1341 and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737. Her feast day is June 19.