AAMEN ESSAY WINNER: Aiden D.
The African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN) invites you to join us in celebration of National Black Catholic History Month (NBCHM). In 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus designated November as NBCHM, entrusting the archives to Notre Dame University’s Theodore Hesburgh Library. These historical documents preserve the stories of African American Catholic priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, seminarians, and lay people. November is also a sacred time when the Church remembers all saints and souls, including the holy men and women of Africa and the African diaspora.
To honor NBCHM, the St. Michael Chapter of AAMEN partnered with St. Michael School to introduce Middle School students to the inspiring life of Servant of God Julia Greeley, known as Denver’s Angel of Charity. Born into slavery and later freed, Julia dedicated her life to serving the poor and spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her humble acts of love and generosity continue to inspire people of faith today as her cause for canonization advances in the Church.
Seventh Grade – Aiden D.
Saints. Charity. Forgiveness. These are words we say very frequently, but there’s a deeper connection between them. Saints are people who bridge the gap between these words—people who help, even if no one helps them. People who love and forgive unconditionally, regardless of how they are treated. People who constantly strive to imitate Christ in their actions, despite circumstances, suffering, and hardship. These outstanding heroes are called saints, and that’s precisely why I’m here—to tell you about someone who deserves such recognition. The heroine of Denver, Servant of God Julia Greeley, known as the true Angel of Charity, exemplified the very meaning of sainthood through her devotion to God and service to others, proving that she truly deserves to be recognized as a saint and an example for us all.
So, who was Greeley? Our story starts all the way back in Hannibal, Missouri, around 1833–1848. The Missouri we know today is a stark contrast to what it was back then, when slavery dominated the state. Yet, amidst this unforgiving reality, Denver’s heroine was born. However, life was not going to be without challenges. Born into slavery, in her early life, she witnessed her mother being beaten by her brutal slave owner. Unfortunately, poor Julia got caught in the crossfire, and her right eye was struck by the whip. Fast forward to 1865, something unique happened—the Missouri Emancipation Act had freed her from the chains of slavery. Although a question still loomed over this freedom: how would she earn her keep? As life turned out, she served white families in Missouri, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, but mostly in the area of Denver, where her saintly virtues were put in the spotlight. Surely, now that she was free, she would use all her money and time to live a better life. However, Greeley did the unthinkable—she helped the poor, even those who belonged to the same race that despised and enslaved her. She chose the narrow path that Jesus Christ wants us to take. In fact, she helped most of them at night because they didn’t want to be embarrassed. Even though slavery was gone, prejudice was still a common theme. There were even times when she herself was begging for fuel, clothing, and food, but no matter what, she trudged along with her little red wagon, which she used to carry her materials around in order to help others.
In 1880, Greeley joined the Sacred Heart Parish, became Catholic, and developed a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bringing the message of Christ’s love pouring out from His Heart to others and to all of us. She would even take the long walk every month to every fire station in Denver and give out Sacred Heart literature from the Sacred Heart of Jesus League—not just to Catholics, but also to non-Catholics. Sadly, since she was illiterate, she couldn’t even read it herself. Her trust and devotion to God extended to the Blessed Sacrament and to Mother Mary, so much so that she was a daily communicant, and twenty-one years later, she joined the Secular Franciscan Order. She remained faithful and active in it until the day she died on June 7, 1918—the same day as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A multitude of people, whether they knew her or not, came to see her body laid in a church—a true testament to her actions.
Being a saint is striving to live the life of Christ through one’s actions, and Julia Greeley did this consistently. Her selfless charity and forgiveness of others echo Jesus’s actions, embodying the true meaning of sainthood. Her strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Mary, and the Blessed Sacrament reflects the qualities of a true saint. After all, there is no greater way to follow Christ than to walk in His footsteps and be devoted to His Mother. She has inspired many, especially me, by powerfully exemplifying the ultimate forgiveness and charity that Jesus Christ extended to us from the cross. This teaches me that no matter how much I have been wronged, forgiveness and charity are always the right path. She truly helps me see God in everyone. Julia followed Jesus’s teachings by choosing the humble path of serving others throughout her life and spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She affirms and empowers me to share the Gospel message by confidently speaking about it in class and continuing to attend Mass frequently, evangelizing others through my words and actions.
In conclusion, Servant of God Julia Greeley proves her worthiness for sainthood through her devotion to God and merciful service to others, making her an outstanding example of Christ’s forgiveness and charity—and thus a profound inspiration for me.
Work Cited
Julia Greeley, Servant of God – Welcome to the official website of Julia Greeley’s Guild & her Cause for Canonization, https://juliagreeley.org/. Accessed 18 September 2025.
Archdiocese of Denver. A video describing Julia Greeley’s life, made by the Archdiocese of Denver. Denver, Colorado (U.S.A), Denver, Colorado, United States of America. Julia Greeley, Servant of God – Welcome to the official website for Julia Greeley’s Guild and her Cause for Canonization, https://juliagreeley.org/. Accessed 27th September 2025.
My Catholic Life! “Sacred Heart of Jesus – Solemnity.” My Catholic Life!, https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/sacred-heart-of-jesus-solemnity/. Accessed 27 September 2025.
“National Eucharistic Revival.” eucharisticrevival.org, Article made by Fr. Blaine Burkey- O.F.M CAP, 31st January 2024, https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/post/american-eucharistic-witnesses-servant-of-god-julia-greeley-the-eucharistic-angel-of-denver. Accessed 27th September 2025.