ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 15th of December
SAINT VIRGINIA CENTURIONE BRACELLI, VIRGIN
The Daughters of Mount Calvary were founded in 1619 by [Saint] Virginia Centurione (died 1651), daughter of the Doge of Genoa and wife of Gasparo Grimaldi Bracelli (died 1625), who during a time of famine gathered a number of abandoned children into a home, which she called Santa Maria del Refugio dei Tribolati in Monte Calvario.
FOUNDRESS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MOUNT CALVARY
Under her inspiration those associated with her in the work decided to lead a common life, follow the rule of St Francis, and pledge themselves to the service of the poor and sick. They bound themselves, however, by no vows, but by a solemn promise of perseverance.
A SOLEMN PROMISE OF PERSEVERANCE
Among the prominent Genoese who promoted the work of the sisters was the Marquess Emmanuele Brignole, through whose munificence a second house was founded, in 1641, after which the sisters were often called "le suore Brignole."
The congregation soon spread through northern Italy. In 1815 Pius VII invited the sisters to Rome, and in 1833 Gregory XVI assigned them a house on the Esquiline, near the church of St Norbert, now the chief house of the institute.
From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
[She was beatified on September 22, 1985 and canonised on May 18, 2003.]
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