Noble by birth, Julie della Rena chose humility by becoming a servant in Florence before retiring as a recluse in Certaldo. She lived for thirty years in a cell attached to the church of Saint Michael, sustained by public charity and rewarding her benefactors with miraculous flowers. She died in 1367 and her cult was officially recognized in 1821.
Guided reading
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BLESSED JULIE DELLA RENA,
Origins and humility
Born into the nobility of Certaldo, Julia chose humility by becoming a servant in Florence before dedicating herself entirely to God.
Julia Julie Noble saint from Certaldo who became a recluse in the 14th century. was born in Cert aldo, a Certaldo Birthplace and place of seclusion of Julia. small town in the diocese of San Miniato San-Miniato Diocese to which the town of Certaldo belongs. , in Tuscany Toscane Region of Italy where the saint's life takes place. . Her parents were noble; but this counts for nothing in the lives of the Saints. She understood early on that humility is the foundation of all virtues: thus she resolved, despite her birth, to become a servant for a man named Tinolfi, in Fl orence. Tinolfi Julie's employer in Florence. The n, feari Florence City where Julie served as a maid. ng that the service of men would absorb too great a portion of the time she wished to dedicate to God, Julia embraced the austere life of a recluse in her native town: her cell was near the parish church dedicated to Saint Michael; she never concerned he saint Michel Dedicatee of the parish church of Certaldo. rself with her clothing or her food, satisfied with what children and charitable people sent her through the window of her narrow dwelling. To acknowledge the charity of her benefactors, she often gave them admirably fresh flowers, and this in all seasons of the year: did they not bloom incessantly in her cell, at the hearth of divine love? She lived thirty years in this state of penance, and, ripe for heaven, fell asleep in the arms of the Lord on January 9, 1367. Her body was found kneeling in the attitude of ecstasy, exhaling a fragrance that perfumed the entire cell. She was given a funeral worthy of the opinion held of her holiness: miracles came to confirm this opinion, and, on September 22, 1821, Pope Pius VII approved the cult that the trust of the faithful had long rendered to her.
The life of a recluse
Julie spent thirty years enclosed in a cell near the church of Saint Michael, living on charity and manifesting the gift of miraculous flowers.
*Local notes.*
Death and recognition
After her death in 1367, her body was found in ecstasy. Her cult was officially approved by Pope Pius VII in 1821.
Julia was born in Certaldo, a small town in the diocese of San Miniato, in Tuscany. Her parents were noble; but this counts for nothing in the lives of the Saints. She understood early on that humility is the foundation of all virtues: thus she resolved, despite her birth, to become a servant for a man named Tinolfi, in Florence. Then, fearing that the service of men would absorb too much of the time she wished to dedicate to God, Julia embraced the austere life of a recluse in her native town: her cell was near the parish church dedicated to Saint Michael; she never worried about her clothing or her food, satisfied with what children and charitable people sent her through the window of her narrow dwelling. To acknowledge the charity of her benefactors, she often gave them admirably fresh flowers, and this in all seasons of the year: did they not bloom incessantly in her cell, at the hearth of divine love? She lived for thirty years in this state of penance, and, ripe for heaven, fell asleep in the arms of the Lord on January 9, 1367. Her body was found kneeling in the attitude of ecstasy, exhaling a scent that perfumed the entire cell. Her funeral was held in a manner worthy of the opinion held of her holiness: miracles came to confirm this opinion, and, on September 22, 1821, Pope Pius VII approved the cult that the trust of the faithful had long rendered to her.
*Local notes.*
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in Certaldo to a noble family
- Domestic service for the Tinolfi family in Florence
- Entered into reclusion near the church of Saint-Michel in Certaldo
- Life of penance for thirty years
- Died in a state of ecstasy in 1367
- Approval of cult by Pius VI on September 22, 1821
Miracles
- Production of fresh flowers in all seasons in her cell
- Body found kneeling in ecstasy after death
- Sweet scent filling the cell at the moment of death