St. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin and Founder of the Order of the Mantellatæ, received Viaticum miraculously at the moment of her death (1270-1340 AD)

A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN FAMILY
The Falconieri were a noble, illustirous and devout family in Florence, Italy. However Charissimus and his pious wife, Regurdata, had been unable to have children. They were quite advanced in years and had given up hope of ever having children> Yet in 1270, they were wonderfully blessed with the birth of a daughter, Juliana. From then on, they devoted themselves exclusively to the exercise of religion. Out of their own coffers they built a beautiful Florentine church - the Annunciation of our Lady (see pictures below). To this day, this church remains one of the most beautiful in the city. It has been raised to the status of minor basilica and serves as the mother church for the Servite Order. Blessed Alexius Falconieri, the only brother of Charissimus, was one of the seven pillars and propagators of the Servite Order. Along with St. Philip Beniti, these seven men are honored by the Church on February 12.

From her infancy, Juliana was gifted with many extraordinary supernatural graces. The first words she ever spoke were "Jesus" and "Mary." She received much of her early formation from her pious parents and saintly uncle. Even at a young age she willingly mortified herself. She had such an angelic modesty that she would never lift up her eyes to look a man in the face. Her horror of sin was so great, that the mere mention of this word would cause her pain and nearly to faint.

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FOUNDING OF THE MANTELLATAE
When Juliana turned sixteen, she knew God was calling her to devote her life exclusively to Him. She made vows of virginity and a commitment to despise all that was not conducive to her growth in virtue. She rejected marriage and worldly pleasures; likewise she renounced the large fortune and estate which was slated to be her inheritance. Instead, with her considerable energies, she sought the priceless pearl. At this young age, she received the religious veil of the Mantellatæ from the very hands of St. Philip Beniti.

The religious men of the Servite Order are the first order. Nuns founded by St. Philip Beniti constitute the second order. The Mantellatæ are a third order of the Servites. They received their name on account of the short sleeves they wore, which was best suited to their work of serving the destitute and the sick and performing other works of charity. Thus, they were not obliged to the strict enclosure common to many other nuns of that time. Juliana's reputation of prudence and sanctity is what caused this group to grow. Many devout ladies wished to seek holiness under her guidance. They compelled her to become their prioress. Even her own mother came to join the Order and placed herself under her daughter's instruction.

Despite being the spiritual mother of the order, St. Juliana found the most delight in serving her sisters and others. Never would she pass an opportunity to exercise charity. At times she sucked the most nauseous ulcers from lepers and patients with scurvy. In particular, she sought to reconcile enemies, help hardened sinners convert, and care for the infirm. She often spent whole days at prayer and frequently received heavenly favors. She also practiced intense austerities. Four days of the week she ate sparingly and only the coarsest food. On Saturday she took only bread and water. The other two days she would fast and contend herself with the Bread of Angels. All these means led her to conquer herself and acquire heroic charity.

HER MIRACULOUS DEATH
On account of her intense penances, which she refused to mitigate even in her advanced age, Juliana fell gravely ill. She was afflicted with various debilitating distempers (a viral disease, causing fever, coughing and other pains, which generally has no known cure). She bore these sufferings with an undaunted cheerfulness and joy. Yet as her sickness grew worse she suffered from continuous vomiting and could not retain food. It mattered little to her that her body was wasting away. What tormented Juliana was that now she was deprived of the comfort and happiness of uniting her soul with her divine Spouse in the most Blessed Sacrament of Altar.

It pained the priest greatly to see Juliana suffer such intense sorrow. She had to go a long time without receiving Holy Communion. Time and time again, Juliana would ask the priest if something could not be done so that she might be closer to her Beloved. Thus, by a special permission, the priest was able to place Our Lord as close as possible to St. Juliana, without her actually consuming the Sacred Host and having Him inside her. The priest consoled Juliana by explaining how she would adore Him and be physically closer to His Real Presence. The priest carefully placed a corporal over her upper torso and then exposed the Sacred Host upon it, laying it over her chest. Ah what delight, to behold her Beloved so near!

But lo! right before the very eyes of the priest and the nuns who gathered around Juliana's deathbed, the Sacred Host disappeared! how surprised was the priest to find the Sacred Host now missing! Very concerned, lest some sacrilege be afoot, the priest quickly made an inquiry of all the nuns. All were innocent and none knew what had become of the Sacred Host. Suddenly, the corpse of St. Juliana began to glow and there, above her heart, was found miraculously imprinted, like a seal, the figure of the Host with Christ curcified! Despite all physical possibilities, St. Juliana had received Viaticum. Christ had entered her body, though not by any normal means. It would seem that since her Beloved loved her even more than she loved Him, He could not resist being apart from her. Christ miraculously satisfied her languishing holy desire.

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VENERATION AND IMITATION
St. Juliana Falconieri died at her convent in 1340 with joy and beauty radiating from her face. Several miracles were wrought through her intercession, including some that underwent intense ecclesiastic scrutiny and received approval. Pope Benedict XIII enrolled her among the blessed in 1729. Pope Clement XII canonized her in 1737 and extended her feast to the entire Church.

St. Juliana is most often depicted in religious habit with a Host upon her heart. In fact, following the approval of this miracle, the Mantellatæ modified their habit to include the image of a Host sewn above the breast.

St. Juliana is a wonderful intercessor for those parents who are asking God for the conception of a child. Her life also serves as a powerful reminder that none but the consecrated hands of a priest should ever touch the Sacred Host. Recall how the priest first placed a corporal over her habit, and only then lay down the Holy Eucharist. This corresponds to our Catholic tradition that lay people never touch the Sacred Species with their own hands. In fact, altar boys will not even touch those vessels which hold the Sacred Species (e.g. the Chalice and Ciborium). Such articles are only held through another piece of cloth (be it a glove or the hem of a surplice). This is similar to what we hear in St. Juliana's case. She clearly manifested her love and reverence for her Spouse, even at the cost of great sacrifice and suffering. That is why He chose to enter into her corporeally and spiritually. We ought to ask ourselves, how many graces are we preventing by sacrilegiously allowing unconsecrated hands to regularly handle the Most Blessed Sacrament?

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