Image: Santa Rosa e San Donnino | fresco, Duomo di Ivrea | photo by Laurom
Saint of the Day for September 4
(1233 – March 6, 1251)
Saint Rose of Viterbo’s Story
Even as a child, Rose had a great desire to pray and to aid the poor. While still very young, she began a life of penance in her parents’ house. She was as generous to the poor as she was strict with herself. At the age of 10, she became a Secular Franciscan and soon began preaching in the streets about sin and the sufferings of Jesus.
Viterbo, her native city, was then in revolt against the pope. When Rose took the pope’s side against the emperor, she and her family were exiled from the city. When the pope’s side won in Viterbo, Rose was allowed to return. Her attempt at age 15 to found a religious community failed, and she returned to a life of prayer and penance in her father’s home, where she died in 1251. Rose was canonized in 1457.
Reflection
The list of Franciscan saints seems to have quite a few men and women who accomplished nothing very extraordinary. Rose is one of them. She did not influence popes and kings, did not multiply bread for the hungry, and never established the religious order of her dreams. But she made a place in her life for God’s grace, and like Saint Francis before her, saw death as the gateway to new life.
Saint Rose of Viterbo is the Patron Saint of:
Florists
Flower Growers
hbspt.cta.load(465210, '703c1875-598d-4943-9e74-5fb20fefc091', {"region":"na1"});
Posted by Franciscan Media.
Daily Reading
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
Readings for the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Reading 1 1 John 2:22-28 Beloved: Who is the liar? Whoever denies…
Daily Meditation
A Voice in Today’s WildernessUna voz en la jungla de hoy día
Click here for daily readings Today’s Gospel passage is especially relevant as we begin a new year with resolutions and hope. In this reading we hear John’s declaration echoing the…