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| A picture of Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli, a Genoa XVI century woman. |
Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli was born in Genoa, Italy in 1587, to an aristocratic family. At the age of 15 she was forced to marry a wealthy and illustrious man and had two daughters. At the age of 20 her husband died and she refused another arranged marriage. Saint Virginia then took a vow of celibacy and began charitable works for the sick and the poor while raising her two daughters. Once they were grown, she used her wealth to create a refuge center which became a large hospital and then into two religious congregations; the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary, and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary. Among her good works included her ability to be a peacemaker between noble families. She died in 1651 and her body is incorrupt.
