A Woman of Strength: St. Juliana of Liège

 

The stained glass window, at left, is of St. Juliana of Liège in Corpus Christi Cathedral. The establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi occurred six years after her death; it was through her faith, efforts, and perseverance that we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, our city and cathedral, which bears the most beautiful name in the world.
 

St. Juliana of Liège, also known as St. Juliana of Cornillon, was a woman of strength and inner conviction whose role in the inception of the Feast of Corpus Christi is not widely known. Who was this saint? How did she come to be responsible for the institution of such an important feast day? 

Juliana was born in 1191 in the village of Retinnes in the principality of Liège, which is now Belgium. She and her twin sister Agnes were orphaned at the age of five and raised under the care of the Augustinian nuns. The convent and leprosarium of Mont Cornillon. After many years of studying under Sister Sapienza [wisdom], who oversaw her spiritual development, Juliana became an Augustinian nun.

Sister Juliana was very intelligent. She memorized the writings of the Church fathers, St. Augustine and St. Bernard, in Latin, and like many in her region and generation, she had a strong devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.  She loved Christ and had a deep sense of His presence, often contemplating on the words of Jesus, “And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).

When she was sixteen, she had her first vision, which recurred several times during eucharistic adoration. As she was a quiet and humble person, Sister Juliana kept these visions to herself. She would see the moon in its full brilliance with a dark stripe across it. During the vision, the Lord made it known to her that the moon was a symbol of the life of the Church here on earth, and the dark line was the absence of a liturgical feast. 

The Lord further revealed that she should plead for this special feast so that the Eucharist can be adored, increasing the faith among all people, expanding the practice of the virtues, and making reparation for offenses to the Most Holy Sacrament. 

Not wanting to call attention to herself, she would keep these visions to herself for 20 years. 

Sister Juliana was prioress of the convent when she finally confided in two friends who shared the same devotion to the eucharistic Lord. One of them was Eva, who lived as a hermit, and the other was Isabella, who was also at the monastery at Mont-Cornillon. They were united in their love and devotion to the most holy Sacrament.  They also engaged a priest, Father John Lausanne and asked him to consult with theologians about this feast.  

As most saints go through a period of hardship in their lives, so too did Sister Juliana.  She had to endure harsh opposition from some clergy and even the superior of her monastery. Those who opposed her made her life very difficult. 

She left the convent of her own free will and, with several of her companions, stayed as guests in various monasteries for ten years, from 1248 -1258. 

Everywhere she stayed, all were amazed and affected by her humility. She never spoke ill or offered criticism for those who stood against her.  Instead, she continued to be obedient and stalwart in her endeavor to spread eucharistic worship.

Juliana died in 1258 at Fosses-La-Ville, Belgium.  In her room where she lay, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and according to oral tradition relayed to her biographer, Julianna died with the last gasp of love, contemplating, honoring and adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. 

The Archdeacon in Liège, Jacques Pantaleon of Troyes was convinced of Juliana’s cause to institute the Feast of Corpus Christi.  He would later become Pope Urban IV and instituted the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after the Most Holy Trinity as a feast of percept for the universal Church in 1264.  He wrote: 

“Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly every day, we deem it fitting that at least once a year it be celebrated with greater honor and a solemn commemoration.  Indeed, we grasp the other things we commemorate with our spirit and our mind, but this does not mean that we obtain their real presence. On the contrary, in this sacramental commemoration of Christ, even though in a different form, Jesus Christ is present with us in his own substance.  While he was about to ascend into Heaven he said, ‘And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).”
 

As we learn about this great woman of strength and the great love she had for our Eucharistic Lord, let us all pray that our devotion to the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist be kindled and ignite a flame of love that will burn in our hearts through the intercession of this wonderful saint. St. Juliana of Liège, pray for us.

– Julie Stark