Saint of the Month - December 2019: Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli

A Holy Woman of Action

Feast: December 15th

Our Saint this month - Virginia Centurione Bracelli - was a Genoese noblewoman born on April 2, 1587, to an elite and distinguished family. She had the good fortune of growing up in a faith-filled home so she was exposed to piety from early childhood; even confiding to her mother that she wanted to enter a monastery. But before she could realize her desire, Virginia’s mother died and her father arranged an advantageous marriage for her with the son of another prominent family in Genoa.

Another depiction of St. Virginia.

Gaspare Bracelli, the intended groom, was the heir to a large fortune, but his personality was a poor match for the devout Virginia – he was worldly and careless; given over to the pleasures of this world. Virginia wept when she learned what her father had done, but out of obedience to him, she reluctantly married Gaspare on January 7, 1602... and it was a rocky union from the start.

Two daughters were quickly born to the couple, which brought a measure of joy and consolation to Virginia… but within 5 years of being together, Gaspare’s wayward lifestyle reduced him to serious illness. Despite his failings as a husband, his loyal wife lovingly cared for him, which effected the man’s conversion before his untimely death on June 13, 1607. On the very same day she was widowed, the 20-year-old Virginia made a private vow of chastity and resisted any further efforts made by her father to remarry her. Instead, she focused all her energy in raising her young daughters and on living a life of active faith and charity "to serve God through the poor".

Virginia, at first, used the wealth at her disposal to assist the needy in Genoa by distributing food and clothing to the poor but, after her daughters were grown and married, her ministry of service went into overdrive - she founded schools; established care homes for abandoned children and the elderly; and lobbied for establishing public devotions to Our Lady and the 40 Hours Devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

In late 1624, the invasion of Western Liguria by the Duke of Savoy saw Genoa flooded by a large number of refugees, and Virginia rose to the challenge; adopting several young girls - victims of the war - and founding a pious association known as the Hundred Ladies of Mercy, Protectors of the Poor of Jesus Christ, comprised of other women who were inspired by the founder's charitable works... and, when the plague and a famine hit her city in 1630, Virginia turned a former convent into a hospital where she and her companions cared for over 300 patients!

A 2nd Class Relic of St. Virginia
in this ministry's custody.

The group started by Virginia eventually evolved into a formal congregation; two separate ones, actually, beginning in 1644: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary and, later, the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary.  Both congregations carry on the Saint's work to this very day.

Given all the good works she accomplished, it's not surprising Virginia was highly regarded in her lifetime. People sought her counsel and she became Genoa's resident peacemaker, especially among the constantly feuding noble families. In addition, the Lord bestowed on his faithful servant extraordinary spiritual gifts, which included private revelations, ecstasies, and visions. The beloved foundress died at the age of 64 on December 15, 1651; her last recorded words were, "My heart is ready, Lord."

Virginia Centurione Bracelli was declared a Saint by Pope John Paul II in May 2003. Her body, discovered completely incorrupt in 1801, is venerated in the chapel of the mother house of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary in Genoa, Italy.

St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli,

pray for us!