Juliana was born in 1192 and was orphaned at the age of 5, along with her sister Agnes, after losing their parents. She grew up in the care of the Augustinian nuns at the convent of Mont-Cornillon, near Liege, Belgium. She made rapid progress while enjoying the Latin writings of Saint Augustine and Saint Bernard. She cultivated an ardent love of the Blessed Virgin, the Sacred Passion, and especially the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1206 she professed vows and devoted herself to the sick in the convent’s hospital. Her intellectual formation was quite advanced for her time.
She began receiving visions at the age of 16 of a full moon, crossed diametrically by a dark stripe. The Lord helped her understand that the moon symbolized the life of the Church on earth, and the line represented the absence of a liturgical feast to adore the Eucharist. It would be for an increase in faith, advancement in the practice of the virtues, and make reparations for offences to the Most Holy Sacrament. Given the culture of the early 13th century, she felt there was nothing she could do about it. She was hesitant at 1st, prayed to be released from this obligation, and held it in secret for 20 years. She then confided in 2 others with the secret and they began to help her. They chose to involve a highly regarded Priest, John of Lausanne.
At the age of 38, she was chosen Superioress by an unanimous vote of the community, but God soon sent heavy trials. She bore harsh opposition from some of the members of the clergy. Roger, the General Superior, a man of vicious and scandalous means, and who had secured his position with bribery, disliked Juliana and incited the populace against her. She was vindicated in courts, and she was restored to her position in the community. Even though Roger was deposed, he regained his power a little over a decade later and sought harm for Juliana.
Of her own free will, she left the convent with several companions. She stayed as a guest with several monasteries and displayed humility, never issuing words of criticism or reproach for her adversaries as she continued with her mission.
She died at Fosses-La-Ville, Belgium in 1258 while in seclusion. After her death, a number of miracles occurred at her intercession.
Jacques Pantaleon of Troyes, who was greatly won over by her efforts during his ministry as Archdeacon in Lieges, became Pope Urban IV. He instituted the Solemnity of Corpus Christi as a feast of precept for the Universal Church. He referred discretely to Juliana’s mystical experiences, and he asked Saint Thomas Aquinas to compose the texts of the Liturgical Office for this. They are still in use today.
She is the patron saint of the feast of Corpus Christi.
Her feast day is April 6.
For God’s Glory.
