Juliana Falconieri

Juliana Falconieri was born in 1270 in Florence to the noble Falconieri family. Her father, Chiarissimo Falconieri, died before her birth, and she was raised by her mother, Riguardata, in the family palace. Her uncle was Alexis Falconieri, one of the seven founders of the Order of Servites (the Servants of Mary). From childhood she showed a strong inclination to prayer and austerity. In her fifteenth year she refused a proposed marriage and, with her mother's consent, received from Philip Benizi, then prior general of the Servites, the habit of that order's Third Order.

For a number of years she continued to live in her family home, occupying a separate room and giving herself to prayer, penance, and works of charity among the poor and sick of Florence. Around the early fourteenth century she and several companions established a household of their own, which became the first community of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites, also called the Mantellate from the short mantle that formed part of their dress. Juliana is regarded as the foundress of this congregation and served as its superior until her death. The sisters devoted themselves to prayer, care of the sick, and other works of mercy in the Servite spirit of devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Passion of Christ.

She was known for severe personal mortifications and for a particular reverence for the Eucharist. In her last illness a gastric condition made it impossible for her to retain food, and she therefore could not receive Holy Communion in the ordinary manner. According to the traditional account, she asked that the consecrated Host be laid upon her breast; the Host then disappeared from view, and she died shortly afterward. After her death an image of the Host, described as having the form of a cross, was found impressed on her flesh. This episode became the principal attribute by which she is represented in art.

Juliana died in Florence on 19 June 1341 and was buried in the Servite church of the Santissima Annunziata, where her relics have remained. Pope Clement XII canonized her on 16 June 1737. Her feast is observed on 19 June. She is invoked as a patron of the sick and of those suffering from bodily ills.