Giuliana Puricelli was a 15th-century Italian Augustinian nun and abbess who sought a life of religious devotion. Born in Busto Arsizio to peasant parents, she fled her home in 1454 to avoid an arranged marriage organized by her father. She found refuge in a hermitage under the guidance of Caterina Moriggi, eventually becoming an abbess. Known for her contemplative nature and penitential lifestyle, she lived as a cloistered religious until her death in 1501 at Sacro Monte di Varese.
Life and service
After joining the hermitage, Puricelli formed a deep bond with Moriggi, helping the community expand. In 1476, Pope Sixtus IV authorized her to adopt the monastic habit. Despite being illiterate, she served pilgrims by fetching water and was recognized for her spiritual patience. Following the death of Moriggi in 1478, she took leadership of the community as abbess until her passing.
Veneration
The local devotion to her spiritual strength led to her beatification by Pope Clement XIV on 16 September 1769. Her remains were moved several times, eventually being placed near the relics of Caterina Moriggi. She is commemorated by the Catholic Church on 15 August.