- Virginia Centurione Bracelli
Infobox Saint
name= Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli
birth_date= birth date|1587|4|2|mf=y
death_date= death date and age|1651|12|15|1587|4|2|mf=y
feast_day=December 15
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church
imagesize=200px
caption=
birth_place= Genoa, Italy
death_place= Genoa, Italy
titles=
beatified_date=September 22 ,1985
beatified_place=
beatified_by=Pope John Paul II
canonized_date=May 18 ,2003
canonized_place=
canonized_by=Pope John Paul II
attributes=
patronage=
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli (
April 2 ,1587 -December 15 ,1651 ) is asaint in theRoman Catholic Church fromGenoa, Italy .Biography
Virginia was born on
April 2 ,1587 in Genoa, Italy to anoble family . She was the daughter ofGiorgio Centurione , who was theDoge of Genoa from 1621-23 and to Lelia Spinola. Despite her desire to live acloistered life she was forced into marriage to Gaspare Grimaldi Bracelli, a wealthy noble onDecember 10 ,1602 . She had two daughters: Lelia and Isabella. The marriage did not last long. She became a widow onJune 13, 1607 , at the age of 20. She refused another arranged marriage brought on by her father and took up a vow of chastity.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 Calvarioconvent 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.Legacy
Virginia was
beatified onSeptember 22 ,1985 andcanonized onMay 18 ,2003 byPope John Paul II .External links
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv84.htm Catholic Forum]
* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20030518_bracelli_en.html Vatican News]
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