The Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Umiliana de’ Cerchi, a Franciscan tertiary who lived and died in Florence, Italy (1219-1246). She was proclaimed blessed in 1694.
Festivities will be held throughout 2019, thanks to the Friars Minor Conventual at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. The friars are from the Italian Province of St. Francis of Assisi (Central Italy).
The celebrations began with the recognition of the relics of Blessed Umiliana. Her relics will be returned to their restored urn on May 19, 2019. The event will be presided over by His Eminence, Giuseppe Cardinal BETORI, Archbishop of Florence, Italy, accompanied by the friars of the Basilica and all the citizens of Florence who would like to participate.
There will be many events to honor of the Blessed, who will be presented and recognized for the great character she was. Her life was filled with virtue and devotion to the Lord, as she traveled the road following the footsteps of our founder St. Francis.
Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAŞCU, Postulator General
