Skip to main content

BLESSED JULIA CERTALDINA, ANCHORESS - 9 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 9th of April

BLESSED JULIA CERTALDINA, ANCHORESS


Born at the beginning of the 14th century of respectable parents in Certaldo in Tuscany, Julia soon developed a great disgust for the world and its vanities. 

In order to be able to lead a humble, low-profile life regardless of her noble birth, she became a domestic maid in Florence. But she discovered that waiting on her employer, who called himself Tinolfi, prevented her from serving God. Therefore Julia then donned the habit of St Augustine instead, which was the outfit of the anchoresses in those days, and returned to Certaldo. On the journey she rescued a child from flames and and restored him to his parents safe and sound. Upon her arrival in Certaldo she locked herself in a small cell near the sacristy of St Michael's parish church, where she spent 30 years in penance and mortification. 

Serving her God in solitude, she was entirely unconcerned with food, and the morsels of bread which children used to give her as they passed her cell made up her living. 

According to Migne*, who mentions Julia on December 20, she died on April 9, 1367. When the clergy and people came to her cell, they found her dead on her knees, emitting the sweetest smell. Even after her death, God worked several miracles upon her intercession, and since that time she has been invoked as intercessor by her fellow citizens in need. The Martyrology for the Augustinian hermits mentions her on February 25 and January 9 is indicated as the date of her death. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Julia may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WELCOME

  Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17   18    19    20    21    22    23    24    25    26    27    28    29    30    31   February - Saints by date  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17 18    19    20    21    22    23    24    25    26    27    28    29 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...
Post a Comment
Read more

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute.  He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...
Post a Comment
Read more