Blessed Giuliana Of Collalto

Biography

Blessed Giuliana of Collalto, also known as Juliana, was born in 1186 in Collalto, Susegana, Treviso, Italy, to Count Rambaldo VI and Countess Giovanna of Sant’Angelo of Mantua. Coming from a noble family, she received a Christian education from an early age, instilling in her a deep faith and devotion to God. At the age of 12, Blessed Giuliana made a significant decision to dedicate her life to God and entered the Benedictine convent of Santa Margherita di Salarola near Calaone, Italy.

During her time at the convent, she formed a close friendship with another holy woman, Blessed Beatrix of Este the Elder, who had entered the convent in 1220. Their shared spiritual journey allowed them to support and encourage one another in their pursuit of holiness.

Inspired by her love for God and a desire to serve Him, Blessed Giuliana founded a Benedictine convent on the island of Spinalonga, which is now known as Giudecca, off the coast of Venice, Italy. She became the abbess of the convent and dedicated herself to a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to God and the community around her.

Blessed Giuliana was widely known for her immense charity and care for the local poor. She selflessly attended to the needs of those less fortunate, providing them with assistance, compassion, and spiritual guidance. Her devotion to serving others exemplified the teachings of Christ and brought hope and comfort to many in difficult circumstances.

Throughout her life, Blessed Giuliana experienced various trials and sufferings. In her later years, she began to suffer from severe headaches, which some experts believe were migraines. Despite her personal struggles, she persevered and found solace in her unwavering faith.

Blessed Giuliana was reported to possess the gift of miracles, which bore witness to her deep connection and favor with God. There are several accounts of her performing miraculous acts. One such occurrence involved her immediately healing the shattered, broken arm of one of her fellow nuns through the power of prayer. Another remarkable incident took place when she visited a prison cell where an innocent man was unjustly detained. By praying over the prison doors and the chains that bound him, she freed the man, and the chains fell away.

In a particularly memorable event on Christmas night, a severe storm prevented the local priest from reaching the convent to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In response, Blessed Giuliana fervently prayed for a solution. Miraculously, an angel carrying the Christ child appeared to the nuns, joyfully proclaiming the arrival of the Savior, allowing them to partake in the divine celebration despite the external circumstances.

Blessed Giuliana of Collalto passed away on 1 September 1262 in Venice, Italy, of natural causes. She was laid to rest in the cemetery of the San Biagio church within the Spinalonga convent. Over time, the precise location of her grave was lost. However, in 1297, numerous small flaming torches were observed hovering over the site, indicating the sanctity and significance of her resting place.

Her body, remarkably found to be incorrupt, was later enshrined in a wooden sarcophagus in the church altar in 1733. Eventually, her relics were relocated to the church of the Redeemer in Venice in 1810 and later moved to the Saint Anne chapel at the parish church of Saint Euphemia in Venice in 1820. The original wooden sarcophagus is now displayed in the Museo Correr in Venice. Additionally, some relics of Blessed Giuliana are enshrined in a church in Collalto, Italy, where she was born.

Blessed Giuliana of Collalto was officially beatified by Pope Benedict XIV on 20 May 1753, confirming her cultus and acknowledging her as a blessed in the Catholic Church. Her life serves as an inspiration to the faithful, encouraging them to embrace charity, selflessness, and unwavering devotion to God in the face of trials and adversities. Her memory continues to be revered and celebrated on her feast day, which falls on 1 September each year.