“Among many pains, the greatest was that of affliction (being deprived of the vision of God)”.
Newsdesk (16/07/2023 11:49, Gaudium Press) Who is Saint Veronica Giuliani, one of the saints whom the Church commemorates in the month of July?
Ursula Giuliani, a great Italian mystic, was born in Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy, in 1660, and at the age of 17 entered the monastery of the Poor Clares of Città di Castello, taking the name Veronica. She held various positions: cook, nurse, mistress of novices and abbess. She received the stigmata of the Passion of Jesus and had many visions and private revelations. She died in 1727 after 33 days of illness. She was canonized in 1839.
After her death, an autopsy revealed that her heart had been pierced. Throughout her life, she asked the Lord not to make her stigmata visible to others. For 30 years she transcribed her visions in a diary, out of obedience to her spiritual director. Today these diaries are documents of the extraordinary life of this holy mystic. The collection of these diaries is called “A Hidden Treasure“, published in 10 volumes of 22,000 pages from 1825 to 1928.
Among the various revelations, she had a vision of Purgatory.
The soul from purgatory who appeared three times to St. Veronica Giuliani
“I saw her in three manners:
The first time it seemed to me that she was in a great fire and that, in the hands of demons, she was undergoing great torments. The sight of these infernal spirits caused her pain; but among many pains, the greatest was that of affliction (being deprived of the vision of God). She could not ask for herself, she was under the arm of God’s justice, and that was enough.
The second time, I saw her suffering from great torments, especially in the senses. It seemed to me that they were tormenting her in the eyes and ears with sharp, piercing irons. The torment of the tongue was much more painful; it seemed to come out of the mouth and touch the ground, appearing to be nailed there, not with an iron nail, but with the nail of the hand of God.
The demons who are the ministers of divine justice, with all their power, tormented her, and she, motionless in the same place where she was placed, could not move. In the end, I saw her all lacerated, pierced with spikes of fire, standing in a blazing fire that turned to ice. It seemed as if the soul was frozen inside, that is to say, at the same time, it felt like fire and ice.
The third time, she appeared in the same way. And then, my Guardian Angel let me know that she perceived the religious habit she was wearing, and the simple sight of it renewed all the torments and pains: because she had lived in the religious habit, yes, but not as a religious should.
Suddenly, I was transported by my own Guardian Angel to the feet of Mary Most Holy. I asked Her for help for this poor soul. I offered myself for her, whatever pain and torment. And Mary Most Holy promised me the grace, telling me to tell everything to my confessor and to ask him for the obedience to suffer a few hours, to satisfy God’s justice for this soul who was shown to me in that situation. I understood that at that moment [that soul] obtained a little refreshment….”
Excerpts from the Diaries of St. Veronica Giuliani – Rita Sberna
Compiled by Roberta MacEwan
