St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli

 

Ø  A Lay woman, Foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary and of the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary
Born	On 2 April 1587 in Genoa, Italy
Died	On 15th  December 1651 in Genoa, Italy of natural causes
Beatified	On 22nd  September 1985 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized	On 18th  May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
Feast	15th December

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli born on April 2, 1587  Italy to a noble family. She was the daughter of Giorgio Centurione, who was the Doge of Genoa from 1621–23 and to Lelia Spinola Born in Genoa Italy on April 2, 1587, Virginia was raised in an aristocratic family which was nonetheless pious, and from a young age she longed to consecrate herself to God in the religious life. However, she was pressured into an arranged marriage at the age of 15 on account of her social status, and had two daughters.   Her husband, a drinker and gambler, died after only five years of marriage, aged 20, and Virginia dedicated her time to raising her children, prayer and works of charity, which she devoted herself to entirely once her children had grown up, caring for the sick, elderly and abandoned.    After her husband's death she began charitable works and assisted the needy and sick. To help alleviate the poverty in her town, she founded the Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo. The center was soon overrun with people suffering from the famine and plague of 1629-1630 and soon she had to rent the Monte Calvario convent to accommodate all the people. By 1635 the center was caring for over 300 patients and received recognition as a hospital from the government. Due to declining funds given by the middle and upper classes, the Institute lost its government recognition in 1647.   She spent the remainder of her life acting as a peacemaker between noble houses and continuing her work for the poor. Virginia Bracelli died on December 15, 1651, at the age of 64.   She constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, and soon the women who worked with her in the hospital were formed into two congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary, and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary.   Victoria retired from the administration of the orders, and performed manual labour and begged for alms, but was called back to administrative duties soon after.   She began to receive visions and locutions in the later years of her life. She died in Genoa on December 15, 1651 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 18, 2003.