Veronica Giuliani (Veronica de Julianis) (1660 – July 9, 1727) was an Italian mystic. She was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839. life She was born Ursula Giuliani at Mercatello in the Duchy of Urbino in 1660. Her parents, Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini, were both of gentle birth. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, she showed signs of sanctity from an early age. It is told that when she was only eighteen months old, she uttered her first words to upbraid a shopman who was serving a false measure of oil, saying distinctly: "Do justice, God sees you." At the age of three years she supposedly began to be favoured with "divine communications", and to show great compassion for the poor. She would set apart a portion of her food for them, and even part with her clothes when she met a poor child scantily clad. These traits and a great love for the Cross developed as she grew older. When others did not readily join in her religious practices she was inclined to be dictatorial. At the age of 16, she experienced a vision which corrected this imperfection of character: she saw her own heart as a "heart of steel", wiped the face of Christ with her veil. In her writings she confesses that she took a certain pleasure in the more stately circumstances which her family adopted when her father was appointed superintendent of finance at Piacenza. But this did not in any way affect her early-formed resolution to dedicate herself to religion, although her father urged her to marry and procured for her several suitors as soon as she became of marriageable age. Owing to her father's opposition to her desire to enter a convent, Veronica fell ill and only recovered when he gave his consent. Life in the convent In 1677 she was received into the convent of the Capuchin order of Poor Clares in Città di Castello in Umbria, Italy, taking the name of Veronica in memory of the Passion. At the conclusion of the ceremony of her reception the bishop said to the abbess: "I commend this new daughter to your special care, for she will one day be a great saint." She became absolutely submissive to the will of her directors, though her novitiate was marked by extraordinary interior trials and temptations to return to the world. At her profession in 1678 she conceived a great desire to suffer in union with our Saviour crucified for the conversion of sinners. About this time she had a vision of Christ bearing His cross and henceforth suffered an acute physical pain in her heart. Spiritual trial In 1693 she entered upon a new phase in her spiritual life when she had a vision of a chalice, symbolizing the Divine Passion which was to be re-enacted in her own soul. At first she shrank from accepting it and only by great effort eventually submitted. She then began to endure intense spiritual suffering. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown of Thorns on her head, the wounds being visible and the pain permanent, and on Good Friday, 1697, she received the impression of Jesus' five wounds on her hands, feet and side. By order of the bishop she submitted to medical treatment, but obtained no relief from these wounds. Although she lived a supernaturally mystical life, she was a practical woman of affairs. For 34 years she was novice-mistress, and guided the novices with great prudence. It is notable that she would not allow them to read mystical books. In 1716, she was elected abbess and while holding that office enlarged the convent and had a good system of water-pipes laid down, the convent hitherto having been without a proper water supply. She died on July 9, 1727 at Città di Castello. Veneration After Veronica's death a figure of the Cross was supposedly found impressed upon her heart, and her body has been noted as being incorrupt. She was beatified by Pope Pius VII on June 17, 1804, and was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839. She is usually represented in art crowned with thorns and embracing the Cross. See also ■Stigmata ■Visions of Jesus and Mary External links ■St. Veronica Giuliani (www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp) at AmericanCatholic.org Saint of the Day ■St. Veronica Giuliani (www.stthomasirondequoit.com/SaintsAlive/id417.htm) at Saints Alive ■Saint Veronica Giuliani (saints.sqpn.com/saintv08.htm) at Patron Saints Index ■Incorrupt Bodies of the Saints (www.catholicapologetics.info/library/gallery/incorrupt.htm) at Catholic Apologetics Information en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Giuliani