Ursula Giuliani (who will later become Sister Veronica Giuliani) was born on December 27, 1660, in Mercatello, a small village in the Province of the Marches in Italy. Her father was a well-respected member of society. Her mother was a deeply religious woman. She would die before she reached her 40th birthday, leaving Ursula and her four surviving siblings (two having died) to their father's care. But before she died, her mother would consecrate each of her five children to the precious Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus. To the Wound in Our Lord's Side, she entrusted Ursula, who was all of seven years old. Without her understanding the full implication of her mother's bequest, nevertheless this was the beginning of Ursula's betrothal to Jesus' Heart, the very Heart Which bled on the Cross.