Juliana Falconieri was a 14th-century Italian nun from a noble Florentine family. Influenced by her uncle, a founder of the Servite Order, she dedicated herself to a consecrated life and joined the Third Order of Servites around 1285. She eventually established the first convent for the Mantellate Sisters, a community focused on serving the sick. Serving as the community's superior for thirty-five years, she remained a devoted leader until her death in Florence in 1341.
Life and service
After her mother passed away, Juliana moved into a dedicated house in 1305 with several companions, creating the first convent for the Servite Tertiaries. The sisters, known as Mantellate due to their short-sleeved gowns, focused their devotion on Our Lady of Sorrows. Juliana spent much of her time tending to the sick in hospitals and homes, leading her community with a spirit of service rather than authority.
Veneration and legacy
Following her death, a reported miracle involving a disappearing Eucharistic host left a cross-shaped mark on her chest. She was canonized by Pope Clement XII in 1737, who also extended her feast day on June 19 to the universal Church. In religious art, she is frequently depicted wearing her order's habit while bearing a host upon her breast.