Out of mind for God
On her first night in the convent Jesus asked Verónica Giuliani “What do you desire?”
“The grace of being able to love you,” she answered. Veronica wanted to be a martyr, but seemingly, the Lord has destined her to experience sorrow.
One day, while praying in the garden, a large black cross appeared in front of her, “I am here, you need not doubt,” and she felt Jesus’ presence.
During communion, she would receive divine messages, experience ecstasies and have spectacular visions.
One day, after receiving Holy Communion, she felt God’s divine love devouring her as a flame consumes a lighted candle. She shouted, “I am burning, I am burning.”
With a share of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for nature, she would leave her narrow cell even during winter nights go to the garden and invoke the help of trees and leaves to find her Beloved—Jesus.
During freezing nights she goes to the garden barefooted, climb a tree and shout to the stars and all living creatures, praising the Lord.
Veronica’s spirituality
As mistress to novices for 32 years, she would always use the word we in helping, loving and serving others. She emphasized self-denial, holy fear of God, moral virtues, rules of religion and service in the monastery.
“God sees me” is a phrase she shared for everyone to live a holy life and feel God’s presence.
After her election as Mistress of Novices and Abbess of the community on April 5, 1716, she placed the keys of the convent on the hands of the statue of the Virgin Mary repeating the rule: “You are the Abbess, I will do as you order.”
Fr. Edgardo Arellano in Life and Teachings of Veronica Guiliani, narrates that Veronica was mystically in hell for many hours, sacrificing for the conversion of sinners.
Bride of Christ
On April 11, 1694, while preparing to receive Holy Communion, the choir of angels invited her to sing “Vene Sponsa Christi [Come Bride of Christ].” She saw Jesus seated on a golden throne, and near Him was the Blessed Mother on an alabaster throne. The Lord took her hand, and placed a ring. In her mind, she sees the ring, feels it on her finger, which tightens during communions.
On Christmas Eve of 1696, in front of the nativity scene, she saw the Baby Jesus inflict a wound in her heart. She felt the flames in her heart night and day. Since then Jesus told her repeatedly: “This heart is no longer yours, but Mine. I have wounded it and has become Mine.”
On Good Friday of 1697 she received the holy stigmata. She saw a vision of Calvary and Jesus told her He would transform her totally to His likeness.
Veronica saw five shining rays emanating from Jesus’ Holy Wounds, the four flames with nails piercing her hands and feet. The spear with brilliant gold pierced her body “from front to back passing through the heart.”
She was entrusted to the Blessed Mother. Then Jesus said, “I belong totally to you, ask Me what you wish and you will receive it.” Veronica answered: “To never again be separated from You.”
In the same year Jesus appeared in a vision, handed a chalice with overflowing wine, gave it to her and said: “My dear, if you desire total identification with Me, you will drink this for love of Me.”
Veronica wrote in her diary: “After having received the chalice, I never again experienced pleasure in food and drink.”
Starting 1720 it was the Virgin Mary who dictated what God wanted her to write on her diary. Jesus showed her His heart with the words “Veronica of Jesus and Mary.”
Not only was Mother Veronica a special consolation to her sisters in the convent. She also performed miracles, multiplied eggs, cheese, oil and fruits that leaves the sisters stupefied.
She also healed them of their physical infirmities and ailments. Jesus gifted her, too, the ability to read the hearts of people. Veronica knew her death. The Lord revealed to her that she would bear the stigmata for 33 years. In addition, the Blessed Mother told her she would agonize for 33 days before her death—three purgatories she would have to pass through.
All these predictions came to pass after she collapsed in the chapel on June 6, 1727, due to a paralytic stroke.
On July 9, 1727, at 3:30 a.m., Veronica fixed her eyes on Fr. Raniero Guelfi, her confessor, to say something. The priest said: “I understand you and that you are asking my permission to die. If it is the will of God, I grant it.”
Veronica, exuding an aura of serenity, died. Her body, sealed in an oak wood coffin and her heart, sealed in another oak box, were buried in the convent at noontime the next day.
She was beatified by Pope Pius VII in 1804 and canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1939.
On September 20, 1980, the Bishops of Umbria requested that she be declared Doctor of the Church. The request was reiterated by the Order of Cappuccin monks to Pope John Paul II on July 2, 1994.