The life of St. Veronica Giuliani
described by Benedict XVI to eight thousand people in the Paul VI
Hall for the general audience is an invitation to “nurture love in our
Christian life, to "keep our gaze fixed on heaven where we will live the
joy of divine love with so many brothers and sisters", because "death
does not have the last word”.
A mystic not of the Middle Ages, but remembered by the Pope on the
350th anniversary of her birth the 27 December 1660, who is joyfully
recalled by "Città di Castello, Urbino," the place that is deeply linked
the life of the saint.
Ursula Giuliani was born in Mercatello, near
Urbino, the last of seven sisters, three of whom embraced monastic life.
At the age 17, she entered the Poor Clare Sisters of Citta di Castello,
taking the name Veronica at her religious profession. She became
superior of the convent and remained there until her death in 1727.
Author of a diary covering 34 years of life, Veronica "became true
image of Christ crucified" through "many penances, great suffering and
some mystical experiences linked to Christ’s passion", "corroborating
her prayers of intercession through the offering of herself”.
"Christ to
whom Veronica united herself is the Christ of the passion, death and
resurrection" and Veronica "arrives at asking Jesus to be crucified with
him”.
Hers is a “markedly Christ centered and spousal experience”. She
lives the experience of being loved by Christ, faithful and sincere
husband, and wanted to respond with passionate and enduring love".
Veronica, who received the stigmata, has "an intense and suffering love
for the Church," for which Veronica prays, as well as for the pope, his
bishops, priests and all the souls in need, even in purgatory.
"Compared
to the preaching of the time, often focused on saving of the soul in
individual terms, she shows a sense of solidarity with her brothers and
sisters on the path to heaven."
Her figure, "invites us to grow in our Christian life, in union with
the Lord, abandoning ourselves to His will with complete confidence and
total union with the Church, the Bride of Christ; it invites us to share
the suffered love of Jesus on the Cross for the salvation of all
sinners, inviting us to keep our eyes fixed on Heaven, the goal of our
earthly journey, where we will live together the joy of full communion
with God with many brothers and sisters; she calls us to nourish
ourselves daily with the Word of God, to warm our heart and directs our
lives. "
In statements like "nothing can separate me from God's will,
not even death" and especially in her last words, the conclusion of the
Pope, we can find "the summary of her passionate mystical experience: 'I
found love, love revealed itself".
SIC: AN/INT'L