Rose of Viterbo

Rose Of Viterbo

Saint Rose of Viterbo, T.O.S.F. (1233/4 – March 6, 1252) was a virgin saint born in Viterbo, Italy.

The chronology of her life remains 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 allegedly 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 reputed to have been cured by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who ordered her to enroll herself in the Third Order of St. Francis, 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 December 5, 1250, Rose allegedly foretold the speedy death of the emperor, a prophecy realized on December 13. Soon afterwards she went to Vitorchiano, whose inhabitants, according to surviving reports, were affected by a supposed sorceress. Rose secured the conversion of all, even of the sorceress, reportedly by standing unscathed for three hours in the flames of a burning pyre. Rose returned to Viterbo at the restoration of papal authority there in 1251.

She wished to enter the Poor Clare Monastery of St. Mary of the Roses, but was refused because of her poverty, as she was not able to provide the dowry required for admission. She agreed to her rejection, nonetheless foretelling her admission to the monastery after her death. The remainder of her life was spent in a 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. Originally buried at the parish church of Santa Maria in Poggio, in 1257 Pope Alexander IV ordered it moved to the monastery she had desired to enter, at which time it was renamed in her honor. Her feast is celebrated on 4 September, the date of this transfer of her remains, when her body—incorrupt despite the passage of time—is carried in procession through Viterbo.

Rose of Viterbo is one of the religious figures featured in the award-winning series of saint plays by Erik Ehn. The play celebrating her life premiered in October 2008 at Goshen College.

It was long believed Rose died of tuberculosis. On June 11, 2010 researchers examining her remains concluded that she had died of a heart condition called Cantrell's syndrome.