The feast day of St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli is celebrated on December 15, the date on which she died in 1651. In his homily at the Mass celebrating the canonization of St. Virginia in 2003, Pope St. John Paul II described her as “a simple and active saint”:

In response to the exhortation of the Apostle John, she wanted to love not only “with words“, “or with her lips“, but “with deeds and in truth” (cf. I Jn 3: 18). Disregarding her noble origins, she devoted herself to assisting the lowliest with extraordinary apostolic zeal. The effectiveness of her apostolate stemmed from her unconditional adherence to God’s will, which was nourished by ceaseless contemplation of, and obedient listening to, the word of the Lord.

In love with Christ and for his sake ready to give herself for her brothers and sisters, St Virginia Centurione Bracelli leaves the Church the witness of a simple and active saint. Her example of courageous fidelity to the Gospel also continues to exert a powerful influence on people in our time. She used to say: when God is one’s only goal, “all disagreements are smoothed out, all difficulties overcome” (Positio, n. 86).

In a message to pilgrims the next day, Pope St. John Paul II stated that St. Virginia “knew how to transform charitable activity into contemplation of the face of God in human beings, uniting docility to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit with prudent and enlightened daring, constantly embarking on new beneficial projects.” This combination of docility and daring underscores that “[g]enuine charity flows from constant communion with God and is nourished in prayer.”