Veronica was born in 1660 in Mercatello near Urbino in Italy to Francesco Giuliana and Benedetta Mancini. She was baptised Ursula and from a very young age was blessed with heavenly visions and other supernatural gifts. In 1677 she entered the convent of the Capuchin Poor Clares in Città di Castello and took the name Veronica in memory of the Passion of Christ. In 1694 she received the impression of the Crown of Thorns as a visible wound and despite medical treatment obtained no relief from the permanent pain caused by it. She was novice-mistress for 34 years until her election as abbess in 1716. She died in 1727 at Città di Castello and was canonised by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839.
Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Rome, in the place called the Drop-ever-falling, the birthday of St. Zeno, and ten thousand two hundred and three other martyrs.
At Gortyna in Crete, in the persecution of Decius under the governor Lucius, St. Cyril, a bishop, who was thrown into the flames without being injured, though his bonds were burnt. The judge, struck with awe at so great a miracle, set him at liberty, but as the saint began again immediately to preach the faith of Christ with zeal, he was beheaded.
In the town of Thora, on lake Velino, in Italy, the martyrdom of Saints Anatolia and Audax under the emperor Decius. Anatolia, a virgin consecrated to Christ, cured, through the whole province of Picenum (now Ancona), many persons labouring under various infirmities, and made them believe in Christ. By order of the judge Fustinian she was condemned to various kinds of punishments. She was cured of the sting of a serpent to which she had been exposed, a miracle which converted Audax to the faith. Finally she was transpierced with a sword, while her hands were extended in prayer. Audax was committed to prison, and being without delay sentenced to capital punishment, obtained the crown of a martyr.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Patermuthius, Copres, and Alexander who were put to death under Julian the Apostate.
At Briel in Holland, the martyrdom of the 19 martyrs of Gorcum. For vindicating the authority of the Roman Church and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, they endured various ignominies and torments from the Calvinist heretics, and ended their suffering by being put to death. In 1867 Blessed Pius IX placed them among the holy martyrs.
At Martula, St. Brixius, bishop. Under the judge Marcian, after having suffered much for the confession of Our Lord and converted to Christ a great multitude of people, he rested in peace.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
