Black Catholic History Month: Julia Greeley

Date of Birth: ?
Date of Death: June 7, 1918

-Somewhere between 1835 and 1855 Julia is born into slavery in Hannibal, Missouri.

-From 1869 to 1871 Julia was employed by the Richardson family in St. Louis, Missouri. Then from 1879 to 1883 she was employed by the Gilpin
family in Denver.

-In 1880 Julia was conditionally baptized at Sacred Heart Church in Denver.

-In 1901 Julia professes vows as a Third Order of St. Francis at St.
Elizabeth’s Church in Denver.

-In 1918 Julia died at St. Joseph Hospital, Denver and was buried from
Sacred Heart Church at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

-In 2011 the Julia Greeley Guild was organized and in 2016 Archbishop
Aquila hired a Roman postulator to begin the canonization process.

-In 2017 her body was exhumed from Mt. Olivet and reinterred in the
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

-Greeley was a daily communicant after her conversion and was known to be extremely charitable to an astonishing degree.

-Julia had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Virgin and the Blessed Sacrament.

-Her charity was so great that only God knows its extent. She was
constantly visiting the poor and giving them assistance from her own
means and when she was unable to assist she would beg for them from
others.

-Greeley realized that whites might feel a little sensitive in receiving
assistance from an old Black woman, so she went at night to their homes
and delivered goods that she had collected for them.

-She fasted regularly for her work and would insist that Communion was
her breakfast.

-At her death her body lay in state, the first time a layperson would receive this honor, and throngs flocked to her funeral because of her great love and devotion.

(Adapted from the Julia Greeley Guild Website)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, your servant Julia Greeley dedicated her life to honoring the Scared Heart of your Son, and to the humble service of your children, especially the poor. If it be in accordance with your holy will, please grant this favor I now ask through her intercession, (mention your intention)
 
I ask also, in the Name of Jesus, whose Sacred Heart filled Julia’s heart with lover for all she met, that I may follow her example of humility and simplicity in loving you and my neighbor. Amen
 
Permission for use in non
Liturgical gatherings granted
By the Most Rev. James D. Conley, S.T.L.,
Apostolic Administrator of the
Archdiocese of Denver;
March 16, 2012
 
Please report in writing and favors received through
Julia’s intercession to:
[email protected]
Website: www.juliagreely.org
Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, LA 70126