Born in Udine on 23 November 1841.
Died in Rome on February 19, 1918.
Second wife of Pius IX's trusted banker, Antonio Cerasi Count of Monterado, with whom she married on August 18, 1864 and became a widow on October 20, 1899. She then dedicated herself to implementing her husband's last dispositions by establishing the Hospice of 'Addolorata for the convalescents, the chronic and those unable to work, built by Eng. Aristide Leonori, and dedicating himself to supporting all sorts of good works. The mayor of Rome, Prospero Colonna, in the solemn re-enactment held in the Campidoglio on 23 February 1918 stated: «Her memory will remain impressed in the soul of all Rome, and it is our honor and pride to have had her as a fellow citizen».
Don Guanella met the munificent Countess Cerasi thanks to the suggestion of Father *Claudio Benedetti, who indicated her to him as a possible benefactress of "large hand", having already given over ten million lire for charitable works. Faithful to the advice received, Don Guanella, after having prayed for a long time, went to the countess who accepted her request generously. The following day he reported to Father Benedetti: «I bring you some good news: I went to see Countess Cerasi, I told her about the work that was being done at Porta Trionfale, and not letting anyone say any more, she immediately added: "Yes, yes , I want to stay at that work too"; and she gave me a note for her administrator, in which she ordered him to give me 50 lire.' He then maintained great gratitude for this benefactress, for example by sending her packets of honey as a gift from her.
Sources:
The death of Countess Cerasi, in «Corriere d'Italia», 21 February 1918, p. 2.
The death of Countess Cerasi. The funeral, in «L'Osservatore Romano», 23 February 1918.
The Hospice of Our Lady of Sorrows, in «Corriere d'Italia», 23 February 1918, p. 2.
PRIMO ACCIARESI, How the Addolorata Hospice arose, in «Corriere d'Italia», 28 February 1918, p. 2.
[MARIO BLANCO], Countess Giulia Cerasi b. of Colloredo. Udine 1841 - Rome 1918, Rome, Liberati's «Don Guanella» typography, [1978].
MARIO BLANCO, Giulia Cerasi of Colloredo. Countess of Monterado (Udine 1841 - Rome 1918), typescript preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library, RGVite.III.1744.
Guanellian sources:
Guanellian Letters, nos. 1581, 2394, 1644.
SACRA RITUUM CONGREGATIONE, Comen. seu Mediolanen. Beatificationis et canonizationis servi Dei Aloysii Guanella [...]. Positio super virtutibus, Summarium, Romae, Typis Guerra et Belli, 1950, p. 121 (witness Father Claudio Benedetti), p. 672 (witness Don Martino Cugnasca).
Photographs:
[MARIO BLANCO], Countess Giulia Cerasi b. of Colloredo. Udine 1841 - Rome 1918, pp. 23-24 (Countess Cerasi was portrayed in two important works of art by Ludovico Seitz: «The union of pagan art with Christian art», frescoed in the Galleria dei Candelabri in 1888, and «The homage of the continents to Pope Pius IX», placed in 1892 in the sepulcher of Pius IX at the basilica of S. Lorenzo outside the walls).