Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Feast Day – 15 December – Saint of the Day

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Today is Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The Memorial of Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli is the Patron Saint of Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Cavalry

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date, Matrimony/Holy Orders, Married People who became Saints

Today’s Readings – Year C

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli brief life History

Date of Birth 2 April 1587
Country of Birth Italy in Europe
Profession Widow working for the poor
Place of Work Genoa, Kingdom of Sardinia
Date of Death 15 December 1651 (aged 64)
Place of Death Genoa, Kingdom of Sardinia
Feast Day 15 December
Beatification By Pope John Paul II on 22 September 1985 at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Canonization By Pope John Paul II on 18 May 2003 at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Patron Saint of Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Cavalry

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Short life History

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli is also known as Virginae Centurione Bracelli

She was the daughter of Giorgio Centurione, an imposing and controlling individual who became the Doge of Genoa, and Lelia Spinola.

She was raised in a pious family, she felt drawn to religious life as a child. However, due to family position she agree to an arranged marriage to Gasparo Grimaldi Bracelli on 10 December 1602. He was a drinker, a gambler, and though the couple had two daughters, Lelia and Isabella, he was little of a father or husband. Virginia was widowed on 13 June 1607 after five years of marriage, aged 20, and with two small children.

Virginia moved in with her in-laws, cared for her children, and dedicated her free time to prayer and charity. When her daughters were grown and married, Virginia devoted herself entirely to caring for the sick, aged, and abandoned children.

In late 1624 and early 1625 war in the region led to many orphans, some whom Virginia took in and cared for, and she worked with refugees in the town. When her mother-in-law died in August 1625, Virginia poured herself into the work, turning her house into a refuge and founding the Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo

Her house was overrun with the needy during a plague and famine in 1629 – 1630. To house them all Virginia rented the vacant convent of Monte Calvario and moved her charges there in 1631. Due to crowding, extra housing was built in 1634, Virginia was soon caring for 300 patients, and in 1635 she received official government recognition for her hospital. Virginia worked closely with the young women in her houses, teaching them religion and ways to earn a living.

The expenses of Monte Calvario were excessive, so Virginia bought two villas and started construction of a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge. It became the mother church of the Institution, whose Rule was written between 1644 and 1650 and which was divided into two congregations: Suore di Nostra Signora del Rifugio di Monte Calvario (Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary) and Figlie di Nostra Signora al Monte Calvario (Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary). When the group of Protectors, the superiors and governors of the Institute was selected in 1641, Virginia retired from administration, working as the humblest sister, doing chores on the grounds and begging for alms for the Institute.

Sadly, though the Institute was a success, healing the sick, educating children, training adults, and helping the dissolute return to productive lives, assistance, personal and financial, began to decline. Without the chance to work with Virginia, many of the middle and upper class did not participate, fearing the poor and rough residents.

Though her health was failing, Virginia returned to active administrative duties. She worked for general spiritual development throughout the region, working for the choice of the Blessed Virgin Mary as patron of the republic of Genoa in 1637, for the institution of the Forty Hours’ Devotion in 1642, and the revival of home missions in 1643.

She acted as peacemaker between noble houses, and aided in the reconciliation of Church and Republic authorities in 1647, ending a dispute caused by the government abandoning support of the Institute. Virginia continued working up to the end of her days, and in later years received the gifts of visions and interior locutions.

Today’s Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Feast Day Quote:

Bracelli spent the remainder of her life acting as a peacemaker between noble houses and continuing her work for the poor.

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Feast Day
Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli Feast Day


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About Laban Thua Gachie 10721 Articles
The founder of Catholicreadings.org is Laban Thua Gachie. I am a Commissioned Lector, a commissioned Liturgy Minister, and a Commissioned member of the Catholic Men Association. We at Catholic Daily Readings, operate the catholicreadings.org, a Catholic Church-related website and we pride ourself in providing you, on a daily basis the following; 1. Catholic Daily Mass Readings 2. Reflections on those Daily Readings 3. Daily prayers 4. Bible Verse of the Day 5. Saint of the Day