St. Rose of Viterbo

St. Rose of Viterbo was an Italian mystic and preacher who lived a short but impactful life. From an early age, she performed miracles, spoke out against injustice, and urged people to repentance. She was expelled from her city for opposing a corrupt ruler but remained steadfast in her faith. She died at the age of 18, and her body was found incorrupt years later, a sign of her sanctity.

St. Rose of Viterbo was born in the town of Viterbo, in central Italy, around the year 1233. While her exact birthdate remains uncertain, her life and witness left a lasting impact on the Church and the people of her region. From a very young age, Rose exhibited signs of deep religious devotion and a unique spiritual sensitivity. Even as a child, she was drawn to prayer, penance, and acts of charity. It was said that she would often retreat in solitude to commune with God, and many believed she possessed extraordinary spiritual insight well beyond her years.

When she was still a young girl, she claimed to have received visions from the Virgin Mary and felt a strong calling to join the Franciscan movement. Although she was never able to become a cloistered nun, she was admitted into the Third Order of St. Francis, which allowed her to live a religious life while remaining in the world. Rose took on the Franciscan spirit of poverty, humility, and devotion with fervent energy. She wore simple clothes, fasted regularly, and spent much of her time caring for the poor and sick in her community.

St. Rose lived during a time of political conflict in Italy, particularly regarding the tension between supporters of the pope (the Guelphs) and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (the Ghibellines). Viterbo was caught in this struggle, and at one point, the city was aligned against the papacy. Rose, though still a teenager, began to preach publicly in defense of the pope and called on her fellow citizens to return to the Church’s authority. Her boldness and outspokenness were remarkable for a young girl in the 13th century, and she quickly became a well-known and controversial figure in her town.

Her outspokenness led to her and her family being exiled from Viterbo, but even in exile, she continued her mission. After the death of Emperor Frederick II, she returned to her hometown. Not long after, she attempted to join a local convent of Poor Clares (also called the Second Order of St. Francis), but she was denied entry, possibly due to political reasons or her young age.

Tragically, Rose’s life was short. She died on March 6, 1251, at the age of only 17. Despite her youth, her reputation for holiness spread quickly, and many miracles were attributed to her intercession. Devotion to her grew rapidly, especially in her native Viterbo, where she became a cherished local saint. Her body was eventually placed in a glass reliquary in the monastery of St. Damian in Viterbo, where it remains today, incorrupt and a focus of veneration.

Though she was never formally canonized through the modern canonization process, Pope Callixtus III confirmed her cult in 1457, which is the Church’s recognition of her sainthood. Today, she is remembered as a patroness of the city of Viterbo and a symbol of youthful faith, courage, and loyalty to the Church. Her feast day is celebrated on September 4, and she continues to be a model of piety, strength, and purity for young Catholics worldwide.

Feast Day

4-9-1252

Birth Date

9-7-1233

Died Date

6-3-1252

Canonised Date

--1457

Viterbo, Italy

"O God, who didst deign to enkindle in the heart of St. Rose of Viterbo the fire of thy love, grant that through her intercession, we may always long for thee above all things and attain eternal happiness. Amen."
ST. ROSE OF VITERBO

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ST. ROSE OF VITERBO

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