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Feast Day: January 1
Birth: June 1, 1451
Death: October 16, 1506
Blessed Girolamo Ginelli, also known as Girolamo de Ginelli, Girolamo of Ancona, or Jerome, was born in June 1451 in Ancona, Italy. He was born into the Italian nobility, but at a young age, he felt a strong calling towards religious life. At the age of 16, Girolamo joined the Franciscan tertiaries at the San Sebastian convent in Ancona.
However, in 1482, he made the decision to withdraw from the convent and become a hermit. He moved to the secluded San Pietro's on Mount Conero near Ancona and lived there for the next 24 years. During this period, he embraced a life of extreme austerity and self-denial. He went barefoot and slept on the bare ground, dedicating himself to deep contemplation and prayer.
Around the year 1500, Girolamo joined the Congregation of the Hermits of Santa Maria di Gonzaga. He spent the remainder of his life as a member of this community, known for his remarkable piety and rigorous penance. Girolamo's devotion to a life of prayer and mortification earned him great respect among his fellow religious and the wider community.
Blessed Girolamo Ginelli passed away on 16 October 1506, succumbing to natural causes. He was buried in the cathedral of Ancona, a testament to the impact and veneration he had garnered during his lifetime.
While specific details about his representation are not mentioned, it is believed that Blessed Girolamo Ginelli is often depicted in religious art with the customary symbols associated with penitent saints, such as a cross, a skull, or a whip.
Although he has not been officially canonized, Girolamo Ginelli's life of deep spirituality and asceticism led to his beatification, although the date of his beatification is unknown. His feast day, according to the Franciscan martyrology, is celebrated on 1 January, a day to remember the sanctity and devotion of this blessed servant of God.