Painting: ‘The Virgin and Child with Saint Rose of Viterbo’
Image Courtesy: Painting Arts Picture.com
(Franciscan Media) Born 1234 in Italy Viterbo, Rose achieved Sainthood in only 18 yrs of life.
Even as a child, Rose had a great desire to pray and aid the poor. While still very young, Rose began a life of penance in her home, she was generous to the poor as religiously devout with herself.
At the age of 10, Rose became a ‘Secular Franciscan’ and soon began ministering in the streets about sin, faith and the sufferings of Jesus.
Viterbo at this time was in revolt against the Papacy, when Rose sided with Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254) against the Emperor Frederick II (1220-1250) Rose and her family were exiled from the city. When Pope Innocent IV side prevailed, Rose was permitted to return to Viterbo.
Rose at the age of 15 so wished to enter the Monastery of ‘St. Mary of the Roses’ but was refused because of her poverty and returned to life of prayer and penance in her family home where she died in 1252 — Rose was Canonized in 1457 by Pope Callistus III
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