Description

Oil Dedicated to St Virginia Bracelli

The St Virginia Bracelli is dedicated to the 17th-century Italian saint from Genoa. Her father was the Doge of Genoa.

Life
Virginia Centurione was born on 2 April 1587 in Genoa and was of noble origins. She was the daughter of Giorgio Centurione and Lelia Spinola.

He was a rich noble. They married on 10 December 1602. She had two daughters: Lelia and Isabella. The marriage did not last long, for she became a widow on 13 June 1607 at the age of 20. She refused another arranged marriage brought on due to her father’s influence. She took up a vow to live a chaste life.

After her husband’s death, she began charitable works and assisted the poor and the sick. To help alleviate the poverty in her town she founded a Centre for Charity.  Due to this she soon had to rent the Monte Calvario convent to accommodate all the people that came in. Around 1635 the center was caring for over 300 patients. They received recognition as a hospital from the government. Due to declining funds given from the middle and upper classes the institute lost its government recognition in 1647. Bracelli spent the remainder of her life acting as a peacemaker between noble houses. She continuing her work for the poor.

Bracelli died on 15 December 1651 at the age of 64.

Sainthood

The canonization cause commenced on 28 April 1933 and finished its set business in 1957. Theologians approved all of her writings to be in line and respective of the faith in a decree dated 10 April 1959. But the historians cleared it on 1 December 1971 and allowed for the cause to proceed.

The formal introduction of the cause came on 7 January 1977 under Pope Paul VI.  An apostolic process was held after this while both processes were validated in Rome. Now the Congregation for the Causes of Saints could commence their own investigation. Theologians approved the cause on 18 October 1983 while the C.C.S. approved it on 20 March 1984.

Bracelli was beatified on 22 September 1985 and was later canonized on 18 May 2003.

Get your St Virginia Bracelli healing oil here at A Blessed Call to Love, Ireland.