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Also known as: Virginae
Centurione Bracelli
Profile
Daughter of Giorgio Centurione, and imposing and controlling individual
who became the Doge of Genoa, and Lelia Spinola. 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
Gesł 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.
Born: 2 April 1587 in Genoa, Italy
Died: 15 December 1651 in Genoa, Italy of natural causes
Beatified: 22 September 1985 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: 18 May 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Vatican Basilica
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv84.htm
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