Feastday: June 19
Patron: of bodily ills, sick people, sickness
Birth: 1270
Death: 1341
Juliana Falconieri was born of wealthy Florentine family in 1270. When she was very young her father died, and thus she was raised by mother and an uncle named Alexis who was one of the founders of the Servites. At the age of fifteen Juliana refused her family's plan for marriage. She became a Servite Tertiary a year later, although she continued to live at home until 1304 when her mother died. Immediately thereafter Juliana gathered together a group of women dedicated to prayer and good works. Later she drew up a rule of life and was appointed superioress of the group. Since her rule was approved by Pope Martin V one hundred and twenty years later, she is considered to be the foundress of the Servite nuns. She died in 1341 at the age of seventy-one and was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737.
Juliana Falconieri, O.S.M., (1270 – June 19, 1341) was the Italian foundress of the Religious Sisters of the Third Order of Servites (or the Servite Tertiaries).
Biography
Juliana belonged to the noble Falconieri family of Florence. 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 consecrated life. After her father's death, she received c. 1285 the habit of the Third Order of the Servites from Philip Benizi, then Prior 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. It is said
she would often fall in to long moments and hours of ecstacy... She was daily caring for the sick in the streets, homes, and in hospitals and was known for using her own lips to suck out the infection of her patients open sores without fear of contracting any illness. Truly a magnificent act. Juliana directed the community of Servite Tertiaries for 35 years and was more of a servant to her subordinates than a mistress.
A putative miracle mentioned in the liturgical texts for her feast day, is said to have occurred at Juliana's death. At this time, unable to receive Holy Communion because of constant vomiting, she requested the priest to spread a corporal upon her chest and lay the Eucharistic host on it. Shortly thereafter, the host disappeared and Juliana died, on June 19, 1341. The image of a cross, just like the one on the host, was found on her breast.
Immediately after her death she was honored as a saint.
The Servite Order was approved by Pope Martin V in the year 1420. Pope Benedict XIII recognized the devotion long paid to her and granted the Servites permission to celebrate the feast of the Blessed Juliana. Pope Clement XII canonized her in the year 1737, and extended the celebration of her feast day (June 19) to the entire Church. Juliana is usually represented in the habit of her Order with a host upon her breast.
