JULIA GREELEY - 7 JUNE

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JUNE

Saints celebrated on the 7th of June

SERVANT OF GOD JULIA GREELEY

Born into slavery in Hannibal, Missouri, around 1840, Servant of God Julia Greeley moved to Denver in about 1878 (with the Gilpins family). After leaving the Gilpins' service, Julia had waged employments in childcare, as a domestic and as an accomplished cook.

SHE BECAME AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

At the Sacred Heart Parish of Denver, Julia joined the Catholic Church in 1880. She was an enthusiastic parishioner, a daily communicant, and became an active member of the Secular Franciscan Order starting in 1901. Her parish priest described her as a fervent promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

A FERVENT PROMOTER OF DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Irrespective of her own low income, Julia spent much of her time distributing Sacred Heart prayer cards and food, clothing and other essentials for the poor. She would often do her work at night, so as to avoid embarrassing the people she was helping. 

Julia died on June 7, 1918. Although her death came unexpectedly, she was able to receive last rites.

A WELL-LOVED LADY

After her death, her body lay in state in a Catholic parish for five hours, during which a constant stream of people came to pay their last respects to the well-loved lady. 

The Archdiocese of Denver opened Julia’s cause for canonisation in 2016, exhumed and moved her remains to the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.