Juliana Falconieri
Encyclopedia
Saint Juliana Falconieri (1270 – June 19, 1341) was the Italian
foundress
of the Sisters
of the Third Order
of Servites (or the Servite Tertiaries).
Juliana belonged to the noble Florentine
family of the Falconieri. Her uncle, Alexis Falconieri
, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order
. Under his influence, she decided at a young age to follow the religious life
. After her father's death, she received c. 1385 the habit of the Third Order of the Servites, from Philip Benizi (Benitius), then general of that order. She remained at home following the rule Benizi had given her until her mother's death, when Juliana and several companions moved into a house of their own in 1305. This became the first convent
of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites. Juliana would serve as superior
until the end of her life.
The Servites' dress consisted of a black gown, secured by a leather girdle, and a white veil. Because the gown had short sleeves to facilitate work, people called the sisters of the new order "Mantellate."
The sisters devoted themselves especially to the care of the sick and other works of mercy. Juliana directed the community of Servite Tertiaries for thirty-five years.
An extraordinary occurrence, mentioned in the oratio of her feast day, is said to have occurred at Juliana's death. She, at this time, unable to receive Holy Communion
because of constant vomiting
, requested the priest to spread a corporal
upon her chest and lay the Host on it. Shortly thereafter, the Host disappeared and Juliana died, June 19, 1341. The image of a Cross, just like the one on the Host, was found on her breast.
.
The Order of Servite Tertiaries
was sanctioned by Pope Martin V
in the year 1420. Pope Benedict XIII
granted the Servites permission to celebrate the Feast of St Juliana. Pope Clement XII
canonized her in the year 1737, and extended the celebration of her feast day June 19 to the entire Church. St Juliana is usually represented in the habit of her order with a Host upon her breast.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
foundress
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
of the Sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of the Third Order
Third order
The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of a Roman Catholic religious order, an Anglican religious order, or a Lutheran religious order. Their members, known as Tertiaries, are generally lay members of religious orders, i.e...
of Servites (or the Servite Tertiaries).
Juliana belonged to the noble Florentine
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
family of the Falconieri. Her uncle, Alexis Falconieri
Alexis Falconieri
Alexis Falconieri is one of the seven founders of the Servite Order and, as such, commemorated on their common feast days: 12 February in the General Roman Calendar of 1962, and 17 February in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints.-Life:Alexis was the son of Bernard Falconieri, a merchant prince...
, was one of the seven founders of the Servite Order
Servite Order
The Servite Order is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders. Its objects are the sanctification of its members, preaching the Gospel, and the propagation of devotion to the Mother of God, with special reference to her sorrows. The members of the Order use O.S.M. as their post-nominal...
. Under his influence, she decided at a young age to follow the religious life
Consecrated life
The consecrated life in the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Anglican Church and to some extent other Christian denominations, is, as the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law states: "a stable form of living by which faithful, following Christ more closely under...
. After her father's death, she received c. 1385 the habit of the Third Order of the Servites, from Philip Benizi (Benitius), then general of that order. She remained at home following the rule Benizi had given her until her mother's death, when Juliana and several companions moved into a house of their own in 1305. This became the first convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites. Juliana would serve as superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
until the end of her life.
The Servites' dress consisted of a black gown, secured by a leather girdle, and a white veil. Because the gown had short sleeves to facilitate work, people called the sisters of the new order "Mantellate."
The sisters devoted themselves especially to the care of the sick and other works of mercy. Juliana directed the community of Servite Tertiaries for thirty-five years.
An extraordinary occurrence, mentioned in the oratio of her feast day, is said to have occurred at Juliana's death. She, at this time, unable to receive Holy Communion
Eucharist (Catholic Church)
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood."...
because of constant vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
, requested the priest to spread a corporal
Corporal (liturgy)
The Corporal is a square white linen cloth, now usually somewhat smaller than the breadth of an altar, upon which the chalice and paten, and also the ciborium containing the smaller hosts for the Communion of the laity, are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist .-History:It may fairly be...
upon her chest and lay the Host on it. Shortly thereafter, the Host disappeared and Juliana died, June 19, 1341. The image of a Cross, just like the one on the Host, was found on her breast.
Veneration
Immediately after her death she was honored as a saintSaint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
.
The Order of Servite Tertiaries
Servite Order
The Servite Order is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders. Its objects are the sanctification of its members, preaching the Gospel, and the propagation of devotion to the Mother of God, with special reference to her sorrows. The members of the Order use O.S.M. as their post-nominal...
was sanctioned by Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
in the year 1420. Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
granted the Servites permission to celebrate the Feast of St Juliana. Pope Clement XII
Pope Clement XII
Pope Clement XII , born Lorenzo Corsini, was Pope from 12 July 1730 to 6 February 1740.Born in Florence, the son of Bartolomeo Corsini, Marquis of Casigliano and his wife Isabella Strozzi, sister of the Duke of Bagnuolo, Corsini had been an aristocratic lawyer and financial manager under preceding...
canonized her in the year 1737, and extended the celebration of her feast day June 19 to the entire Church. St Juliana is usually represented in the habit of her order with a Host upon her breast.