Juliana was born of a wealthy Florentine family in 1270. Her mother had been deemed sterile and her father was advanced in years. He passed away while she was still very young and thus was raised by her mother and uncle Alexis. He was one of the 7 founders of the Servite Order and educated her in the love of Mary and humility.

Even at an early age, Juliana delivered herself up entirely to the pursuit of Christian values, and it radiated so much that her uncle, debated to tell her mother, that she had given birth to an angel instead of a girl. Being very modest, she sought to be the position of Oblate, or the lowest rank within the Servites.

At the age of 15, she was set for an arranged marriage but refused, and renounced her inheritance. Instead she became a Servite Tertiary a year later and received the habit of the Third Order of the Servites from Saint Philip Benizi who had been the prior General of that Order. She remained at home until her mother’s death.

At the age of 35, she then gathered a group of women dedicated to prayer and good works. They were of noble families as well, and using Juliana as an example, they gave up their inheritance. She drew up a rule of life, and they moved into a house of their own. This became the 1st convent of the Sisters of the Third Order of Servites and she served as Superior. They were surnamed “Mantellatae” for the black habits and short sleeves they wore for the facilitation of work.

Juliana would often fall into long moments of prayer and ecstasy, sometimes lasting hours. Daily she cared for the sick in the streets, homes, and in hospitals. The city was plagued with strife between Guelphs, who supported the Popes, and the Ghibellines, who supported the emperors. The Sisters promoted peace in a city marked by deadly vendettas, and she toiled to make peace among the citizens, and recall sinners from evil course. They performed acts of penance and fasting to end the anger and hatred of their area.

Her influence extended so much that the whole order of Servites, for both men and women alike, hailed her as their mother for she completed the work of its foundation and gave it stability. She directed the community as more of a servant than a mistress.

Because of her extreme fasting and additional sufferings as offerings, as she grew in age, she became increasingly ill. She bore it with a smile and a brave heart. By the age of 70, she had been unable to receive Holy Communion because of constant vomiting. Knowing that she neared death, she requested the priest to spread a corporal upon her chest and to lay the Eucharistic host near her heart. Shortly thereafter, the host disappeared and Juliana died on June 19, 1341. The image of a cross, just like the one on the host, was found on her chest.

The Servite Order was approved by Pope Martin V in 1420.

She is the patron saint of the chronically ill.

Her feast day is June 19.

For God’s Glory.