Juliana Morell facts for kids
Juliana Morell (born February 16, 1594 – died June 26, 1653) was an incredibly smart girl from Catalonia. She was known as a child prodigy, meaning she was very gifted and learned things much faster than others her age. Later in life, she became a Dominican nun. Some people believe she earned a special university degree called a doctorate in canon law when she was only 14 years old in Avignon. However, later research suggests this might have been a misunderstanding of old documents. While her father wanted her to get this degree, she chose not to, feeling it wasn't right for her as a nun.
Biography of Juliana Morell
Juliana Morell was born in Barcelona. She lost her mother when she was very young. Her first lessons were with the Dominican nuns in Barcelona. By the age of four, she was already learning Latin, Greek, and Hebrew at home with special teachers. When she was not even seven years old, she wrote a letter in Latin to her father, who was away.
Her father had to move to Lyon, and Juliana, who was eight years old, went with him. In Lyon, Juliana continued her studies for nine hours every day! She learned about public speaking (rhetoric), thinking skills (dialectics), good behavior (ethics), and music. When she was 12, she publicly presented her ideas in ethics and dialectics, earning the highest honors. After that, she studied physics, metaphysics (the study of basic truths), and different types of law.
Her father, who had moved to Avignon, really wanted Juliana to get a law doctorate. Some stories say she earned this degree in 1608. She supposedly presented her law ideas publicly at the papal palace in front of important people. However, it's not completely clear which group gave her this degree.
Some sources have said that Juliana Morell was the first woman to receive a university degree. But the details are not very clear. While she "defended her ideas" around 1606 or 1607, claims that she got a doctorate in canon law in 1608 have been questioned. The first woman confirmed to receive a doctorate degree in modern times was Elena Cornaro Piscopia in 1678, at the University of Padua.
Even though she could have had a wealthy life and a good marriage, Juliana chose to join a convent in Avignon in the same year. In 1609, she officially became a nun, and on June 20, 1610, she took her vows. She was chosen to be the prioress (the leader of the convent) three times. She was very ill for two years before she passed away in 1653 in Avignon.
The famous writer Lope de Vega wrote a poem praising her. He called her "the fourth of the Graces and the tenth Muse." He also said she was "an angel who publicly taught all the sciences from the professorial chairs and in schools."
Writings by Juliana Morell
Juliana Morell wrote several religious books and texts:
- A translation of the "Vita Spiritualis" (Spiritual Life) by Vincent Ferrer, with her own comments and notes (published in Lyons, 1617; and Paris, 1619).
- Exercices spirituels sur l'éternité (Spiritual Exercises on Eternity), published in 1637.
- A French translation of the Rule of St. Augustine, which is a guide for religious life. She added explanations and observations to help others learn (published in Avignon, 1680).
- A history of the changes made to the convent of St. Praxedis, which included stories about some very religious sisters (this was a handwritten manuscript).
- Poems in Latin and French, some of which were printed and some remained as handwritten copies.
See also
In Spanish: Juliana Morell para niños
