Dec. 15 Friday of the Second Week of Advent, Weekday

Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli (1587-1651) is celebrated in Italy. She was born in Genoa, Italy and entered into an arranged marriage at the age of 15. She bore two daughters and was widowed at the young age of 20. She refused another marriage and took up a vow of chastity. She devoted the rest of her life to helping the needy and the sick and died in 1651, aged 64. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 18, 2003.