Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli (April 2, 1587 – December 15, 1651) is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church from Genoa, Italy. Virginia was born on April 2, 1587, in Genoa, Italy to a noble family. She was the daughter of Giorgio Centurione, who was the Doge of Genoa from 1621 to 1623 and to Lelia Spinola. Despite her desire to live a cloistered life, she was forced into marriage to Gaspare Grimaldi Bracelli, a wealthy noble on December 10, 1602. She had two daughters: Lelia and Isabella. The marriage did not last long. She became a widow on June 13, 1607, at the age of 20. She refused another arranged marriage brought on by her father and took up a vow of chastity. After her husbands death she began charitable works and assisted the needy and sick. To help alleviate the poverty in her town, she founded the Cento Signore della Misericordia Protettrici dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo. The center was soon overrun with people suffering from the famine and plague of 1629–1630 and soon she had to rent the Monte Calvario convent to accommodate all the people. By 1635 the center was caring for over 300 patients and received recognition as a hospital from the government. Due to declining funds given by the middle and upper classes, the Institute lost its government recognition in 1647. She spent the remainder of her life acting as a peacemaker between noble houses and continuing her work for the poor. Virginia Bracelli died on December 15, 1651, at the age of 64. Virginia Centurione Bracelli died in 1651, but her body was found largely uncorrupted when her grave was opened 150 years later. She was canonized in 2003.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 22:07:00 +0000
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