Dec 15th - Virginia Centurione Bracelli

This has been updated for 2020, a time when health care is on the ropes.
Virginia had a short marriage to a less than optimal individual, who died after only 5 years. She moved in with her in-laws and raised her two daughters to adulthood, at which time she began caring for the the sick, aged, and orphan, as well as abandoned children. Eventually her in-law's home was overwhelmed and she moved into an abandoned convent, with expanding that as well. After some time she won recognition as a hospital.
Even that proved too small. She expanded until she created an order which served there. This formed into two orders.
Eventually she "retired" from leading and took up begging to support the ministry as well as doing small chores around the grounds.
As we look at the over-whelmed health system, we can see the dedication and funds it took to maintain such a ministry. We can see the toll on both facilities and personnel. We can imagine what it might have been like for her.
How much do we take health care and health care workers for granted. How much do we, in our selfishness and hubris, give no thought to the physical and mental strain we force on them in our desire to be right about something?
And not just doctors and nurses, but techs, and janitors, admin workers - everyone who work hard everyday with pain ans suffering that they hope to relieve through their efforts.
Keep them in mind and keep your attitude in mind when approaching your own health.
Virginia pray for us!

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Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, Break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor, For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the LORD. Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your stakes. For you shall spread abroad to the right and to the left; your descendants shall dispossess the nations and shall people the desolate cities. Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer. This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

-- Isaiah 54:1-10