Saint Juliana Falconieri
Also known as
- Giuliana Falconieri
Profile
Only child of a wealthy Florentine noble family of Chiarissimo and Riguirdata Falconieri. Niece of Saint Alexis Falconieri. Her father died Juliana was very young, and her uncle Alexis had a great influence on her. Given to chronic gastric problems throughout her life. Legend says she never gazed into a mirror, never looked at a man’s face, trembled at the mention of sin, and fainted upon hearing scandalous gossip.
Juliana refused an arranged marriage at age 14. She became a Servite tertiary in 1285, taking the habit from her spiritual director, Saint Philip Benizi. Helped form, and served as first superior of the Servite Order of Mary (Servite Nuns, the Mantellate Servites), which was formally established in 1304, and their first convent founded in 1305.
At her death, unable to receive Holy Communion because of constant vomiting, she requested the priest to spread a corporal upon her breast and lay the Host on it. Soon after, the Host disappeared, Juliana died, and the image of the cross that had been on the Host was found on her breast.
Born
- 12 June 1341 at Florence, Italy of natural causes
- relics at the church of San Annunziata in Florence
- in the habit of the Servite Order with a Host upon her breast
MLA Citation
- “Saint Juliana Falconieri“. CatholicSaints.Info. 6 October 2023. Web. 1 May 2024. <>