Rose of Viterbo

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Saint Rose of Viterbo (1235–March 6, 1252) was a virgin saint, born at Viterbo, Italy.

The chronology of her life must always remain uncertain, as the Acts of her canonization, the chief historical sources, record no dates. Those given above are accepted by the best authorities.

Born of poor and pious parents, Rose was remarkable for holiness and for her miraculous powers from her earliest years. When but three years old, she raised to life her maternal aunt. At the age of seven, she had already lived the life of a recluse, devoting herself to penances. Her health succumbed, but she was miraculously cured by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who ordered her to enroll herself in the Third Order of Francis of Assisi, and to preach penance to Viterbo, at that time (1247) held by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and a prey to political strife and heresy.

Her mission seems to have extended for about two years, and such was her success that the prefect of the city decided to banish her. The imperial power was seriously threatened. Accordingly, Rose and her parents were expelled from Viterbo in January 1250, and took refuge in Soriano nel Cimino. On 5 December 1250, Rose foretold the speedy death of the emperor, a prophecy realized on 13 December. Soon afterwards she went to Vitorchiano, whose inhabitants had been perverted by a famous sorceress. Rose secured the conversion of all, even of the sorceress, by standing unscathed for three hours in the flames of a burning pyre, a miracle as striking as it is well attested. With the restoration of the papal power in Viterbo (1251) Rose returned.

She wished to enter the monastery of St. Mary of the Roses, but was refused because of her poverty. She humbly submitted, foretelling her admission to the monastery after her death. The remainder of her life was spent in the cell in her father's house, where she died. The process of her canonization was opened in that year by Pope Innocent IV, but was not definitively undertaken until 1457. Her feast is celebrated on 4 September, when her body—believed by the faithful to be still incorrupt, despite the passage of time—is carried in procession through Viterbo.

[edit] Sources

The immediate source is the article, signed by Gregory Cleary, in the 1914 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia. An online version is available [here].

Cleary lists his sources as follows:

Bullar. Franc., 1, 640;
Acta Proc. Canonizationis, ann. 1456 in Acta SS., IV Sept.;
WADDING, Annales Min. (Rome, 1731), II, 423; III, 280;
ANDREUCCI, Notizie criticoistoriche di S. Rosa, Verg. Viterbese (Rome, 1750);
BRIGANTI, S. Rosa ed il suo secolo (Venice, 1889);
LEON, Lives of the Saints of the Three Orders of S. Francis (Taunton, England, 1886).
The best modern life is that by DE KERVAL, Ste Rose, sa vie et son temps (Vanves, 1896);
PIZZI, Storia della Città di Viterbo (Rome, 1887).