SAINTS CORNER - An Saint in the Making: Servant of God Giulia Gabrieli

Hello, again! It's Julia! Recently, I have been learning about some saints from recent times. Last time, we learned about Venerable Carlo Acutis, and this time we are going to learn about a young girl who shares my name! Giulia Gabrieli is currently a candidate for sainthood. That means she is not yet a saint, but one day she will be. Giulia is currently a Servant of God, the first step in becoming a saint. 

In 1997, Giulia was born in Italy. She was the oldest child of two - her little brother was born later. His name is Davide Gabrieli, and he is a teenager and is still alive. Giulia died in 2011 (which is the year my nine-year-old sister was born - that's how recent she died). She loved to do many things you like to do. She loved to shop and hang out with friends and listen to music (her favorite song was Strada Facendo, and she especially liked the version by Laura Pausini)...but she also loved Jesus, and her life was lived for Him. Giulia also had a special talent for writing. She won awards for her writing, and after she died, a book of hers was published, titled Un Gancio in Mezzo al Cielo, which is Italian for "a hook in the middle of the sky". In it, she told the story of herself, and it is a truly inspiring story (unfortunately, it has not yet been translated into English). 

In 2009, she noticed swelling in her hand while she was on vacation. Everyone thought it was a bug bite, but when the swelling persisted, Giulia was taken to the doctor for tests. They found that Giulia's swelling was caused by a form of cancer. Giulia dedicated her last days to God, praying the rosary all the time and even visiting religious sites. During her illness, she stumbled across the life of Blessed Chiara Badano, whom you can read about here. Giulia's faith in Jesus gave her great peace. 

On August 19, 2011, while the Way of the Cross was being held during World Youth Day, Giulia went to heaven at the age of fourteen. Giulia's book was published, and the people who knew her worked tirelessly to let the whole world know about her. Now, Giulia is a Servant of God, three steps away from sainthood. If you are ever sick, pray for Giulia to help you. She is a powerful intercessor because she understands kids our age, because she was a kid just like you once upon a time. 

Giulia Gabrieli, PRAY FOR US!