Giulia della Rena
Giulia della Rena (1319 – 9 January 1367) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member of the Order of Saint Augustine in its third order branch.[1] Della Rena was orphaned sometime in her late childhood and sought work as a maid in Florence where she soon became a member of the Augustinian tertiaries. The religious then returned to Certaldo due to the negative Florentine economic and political climate where she became best known for rescuing a child from a burning building.[2][3] LifeGiulia della Rena was born to impoverished nobles (whose status began to wane) in Certaldo sometime in 1319.[1][2] She was orphaned of both her parents sometime in her childhood.[3] Della Rena sought work outside of her hometown and became a maid to the Timolfi household in Florence. In 1337 at the Augustinian church of the Holy Spirit, she became an Augustinian Secular.[4] But the tumult in Florence caused her to return home to Certaldo where she rescued a child from a burning building in a move that brought her unwanted fame and attention.[1] She then retired to live the remainder of her life as an anchoress in a small cell that was built to the church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo.[3] She had little in her small cell save for a little window and a Crucifix.[3] Della Rena died at the beginning of 1367.[4] Her remains were interred in the church of Santi Jacopo e Filippo and were moved to its altar in 1372.[2] BeatificationIn 1819 Pope Pius VII confirmed her blessed ab immemorabili.[5] References
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