Saint Rose of Viterbo

St. Rose of Viterbo lived between 1235 and 1252.  She was born in Viterbo in central Italy at a time when Italy was not yet unified but divided into states. Rome and the areas around it were referred to as the Papal States that came under the jurisdiction of the Pope, even in political power.  Emperor Frederick II, seeking power over the Italian states, invaded the Papal states in 1240 when Rose was five years old.  The Emperor was excommunicated by the Pope, but he succeeded in occupying the Papal states including Viterbo.

This was the ‘climate’ that surrounded the childhood and teenage years of Rose. In her short life, her profound spirituality shone from a very early age in an extraordinary way. It is believed that when she was three years old, she and her family were gathered around her aunt’s coffin. She was so deeply moved by her relatives’ grief that she placed her tiny hands on her aunt’s lifeless body and called her by name. The deceased woman immediately opened her eyes and embraced her niece.  At the age of seven, she would spend days in prayer and penance in a small room in her parents’ home.  It was at this time that Rose is said to have had a vision of Our Lady, who told her to become a lay Franciscan and to be ‘a witness of God in the world.’ She was only 12 years old when she went out in the streets to preach!

She spoke about the authority of the Pope, about repentance, justice and mercy, encouraging people to remain loyal to their beliefs. Even at that tender age, she did not refrain from speaking against the occupation of the anti-papal forces.  As a result, she was in danger of being killed.  So, the mayor exiled her together with her parents. As she moved from town to town, she did not cease to preach and convert people.  She even predicted the death of Emperor Frederick, who in fact died eight days after her prediction.

When she returned home, she asked to be accepted as a nun with the Poor Clares, but she was refused. . .  because she could not afford to have a dowry!

She died a few years later when she was just 17 years old. Her body was moved to the convent of the Poor Clares, who had refused her as ‘a pauper and then accepted her as a saint.’