Giulia della Rena

Giulia della Rena (1319 - 9 January 1367) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member of the Order of Saint Augustine in its third order branch.[1] Della Rena was orphaned sometime in her late childhood and sought work as a maid in Florence where she soon became a member of the Augustinian tertiaries. The religious then returned to Certaldo due to the negative Florentine economic and political climate where she became best known for rescuing a child from a burning building.[2][3]

Blessed Giulia della Rena O.S.A.
Laywoman
Born	1319 Certaldo, Republic of Florence
Died	9 January 1367 (aged 47) Certaldo, Republic of Florence
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	18 May 1819, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal States by Pope Pius VII
Feast	9 January 15 February (Augustinians)
Attributes	Augustinian habit Flowers
Patronage	Certaldo Augustinian tertiaries Against the plague Against infections

The 1819 confirmation of her local 'cultus' (or popular devotion) - which began almost right after she died - allowed for Pope Pius VII to approve her beatification.[4]

Life

Giulia della Rena was born to impoverished nobles (whose status began to wane) in Certaldo sometime in 1319.[1][2] She was orphaned of both her parents sometime in her childhood.[3]

Della Rena sought work outside of her hometown and became a maid to the Timolfi household in Florence. It was there that she became a professed member of the Order of Saint Augustine in its third order branch in 1338 at their church of the Holy Spirit while also receiving the habit.[4] But the tumult in Florence caused her to return home to Certaldo where she rescued a child from a burning building in a move that brought her unwanted fame and attention.[1] She then retired to live the remainder of her life as an anchoress in a small cell that was built to the church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo.[3] She had little in her small cell save for a little window and a Crucifix.[3]

Della Rena died at the beginning of 1367.[4] Her remains were interred in the church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo and were moved to its altar in 1372.[2]

Beatification

Tomb in Ss. Jacopo e Filippo in Certaldo.

The confirmation of her local 'cultus' – or popular devotion – allowed for Pope Pius VII to issue his full approval for her beatification on 18 May 1819. Such a cult began almost right after she had died and became enduring. Sometime in the 1500s she was hailed as a patron of being against pestilent and infections due to miracles curing people of such.

References

1. "Blessed Julia of Certaldo". Saints SQPN. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
2. "Blessed Giulia della Rena from Certaldo". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
3. "Blessed Julia of Certaldo". Midwest Augustinians. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
4. "Blessed Julia of Certaldo". Province of St. Augustine. 15 February 2000. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

External links

• Saints SQPN