St. Juliana Falconieri, Virgin, Foundress of the Mantellate

St. Juliana Falconieri (1270-1341) was an Italian Catholic saint and the founder of the Mantellate, a religious congregation of women. Born in Florence, she dedicated her life to prayer and service, caring for the sick and poor. Renowned for her deep spirituality and ascetic lifestyle, Juliana refused to marry and instead joined a group of devout women who followed the Third Order of the Servites. She later established the Mantellate, a community of religious women who followed the Servite rule. Juliana was known for her devotion to the Eucharist and for miraculous events associated with her life, such as the appearance of an image of Christ on her chest when she was dying. She is the patron saint of the Servite Order and is invoked for relief from stomach ailments.