Saint Rose Venerini

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Saint Rose Venerini
Feast Day	May 07
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Exiles; people rejected by religious orders; tertiaries; Viterbo, Italy
Birthplace	Viterbo, Italy
Death Place	Rome, Italy
Cause of Death	Natural causes
Primary Shrine	Chapel of the Generalate, Rome, Italy

Saint Rose Venerini (born Rosa Venerini; 9 February 1656 – 7 May 1728) was an Italian Roman Catholic saint and virgin who founded the Religious Teachers Venerini, establishing the first public school for girls in Italy in Viterbo in 1685. According to her biography in Vatican records, after overcoming personal crises and family tragedies, she dedicated her life to the Christian education of young women from poor families, opening over 40 schools across Lazio despite opposition from clergy and society. Her innovative approach emphasized complete formation for life in society, earning praise from Pope Clement XI who visited one of her Roman schools in 1716.

Beatified by Pope Pius XII on 4 May 1952 after the recognition of miracles attributed to her intercession, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 October 2006 following the verification of another miracle. Her feast day is 7 May in the Roman Rite, and she is venerated as a model of perseverance in education and apostolic community life.

Biography

Birth

Saint Rose Venerini was born Rosa Venerini on 9 February 1656 in Viterbo, Italy, the daughter of Goffredo Venerini, a prominent physician, and Marzia Zampichetti from an ancient local family. As the third of four children, she was baptized shortly after birth in the local parish, receiving a formation in steadfast Christian principles amid a devout household. Hagiographic tradition holds that she made a vow of consecration to God at age seven, though this originates from early biographies rather than primary records.

Her intelligence and sensibility were nurtured through family education, fostering talents in mind and heart. Evidence from contemporary accounts suggests a childhood marked by piety, though she later faced worldly attractions in youth.

Early Life

At age 20, Rose considered marriage or the cloister but felt called to a different path for the Church's good. In autumn 1676, she entered the Dominican Monastery of St. Catherine in Viterbo on her father's advice, learning silence and meditation under her aunt's guidance. She left after a few months due to her father's sudden death, returning to support her grieving mother.

Family tragedies followed: her brother Domenico died at 27, and her mother soon after. With her sister married and brother Orazio remaining, Rose, now 24, began gathering local women for rosary in her home in May 1684, discerning a call to address women's cultural and spiritual poverty.

Occupation

Rose's occupation centered on education, beginning with informal instruction during rosary gatherings that revealed the need for systematic schooling. On 30 August 1685, with Bishop Cardinal Urbano Sacchetti's approval and help from friends Gerolama Coluzzelli and Porzia Bacci, she opened Italy's first public girls' school in Viterbo, focusing on Christian formation and societal preparation. Facing resistance from clergy viewing catechism as their domain and societal scandal over her class status, she persevered, noting moral improvements in families.

Her work expanded; called by Cardinal Mark Anthony Barbarigo, she opened 10 schools in Montefiascone (1692–1694), training successors like St. Lucia Filippini. Probabilistic inferences from historical records indicate her administrative genius in organizing communities and curricula.

Vocation

Rose's vocation matured through prayer and Ignatian spirituality under Jesuit guidance, emphasizing the Divine Will. Rejecting both marriage and cloister, she formed an apostolic community of "Maestre Pie" for education, approved by the bishop in 1685. Influenced by St. Ignatius, she nourished communion with God through mental prayer and Eucharistic life, viewing her mission as liberating women from ignorance.

In Rome from 1706, an initial failure led to a successful reopening in 1713 near the Campidoglio. Pope Clement XI's 1716 visit affirmed her: "You are doing that which we cannot do." Her "educate to save" motto guided over 40 foundations.

Death

After intense travels and labors, Rose died peacefully on 7 May 1728 in the Community of St. Mark's, Rome, aged 72, having opened more than 40 schools. Eyewitness accounts describe a saintly death; her remains were entombed in the nearby Church of the Gesù.

Saint Rose met her end peacefully in old age. Her reputation for holiness grew immediately, with miracles claimed at her tomb. In 1952, during beatification, remains transferred to the Generalate chapel.

Significant events

• Vowed consecration to God (c. 1663).
• Entered Dominican Monastery of St. Catherine (autumn 1676).
• Opened first public girls' school in Viterbo (30 August 1685).
• Founded 10 schools in Montefiascone (1692–1694).
• Reopened school in Rome (8 December 1713).
• Visited by Pope Clement XI (24 October 1716).
• Died in Rome (7 May 1728).
• Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI (15 October 2006).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Viterbo, Italy
• Death location: Rome, Italy
• Notable location: Birthplace and museum (Via Casa di Santa Rosa 3, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)
• Notable location: Generalate and chapel with relics (Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli 31, 00193 Rome, Italy)
• Notable location: Early monastic formation (Monastery of St. Catherine, Viterbo, Italy)
• Notable location: Community of death (Church of St. Mark, Rome, Italy)
• Notable location: Site of first school (Via delle Piagge, Viterbo, Italy)

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Saint Rose Venerini
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List of shrines

Chapel of the Generalate

• The chapel houses Saint Rose's relics, transferred in 1952 during beatification, designated by the local ordinary under Canon 1230 for pilgrimages focused on educational charism and relic veneration, offering sacraments and retreats.
• Pilgrimage details: Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli 31, 00193 Rome, Italy; established 1952; annual May 7 feast with indulgences; Diocese of Rome.
• Facts: "Remains moved here from Church of the Gesù, symbolizing her legacy in teacher formation."

Casa di Santa Rosa

• Museum-shrine at her birthplace, designated for vocational pilgrimages by the Diocese of Viterbo, featuring artifacts and prayer spaces tied to her early life and first school.
• Pilgrimage details: Via Casa di Santa Rosa 3, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; restored 20th century; May devotions; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Site where she gathered women for rosary in 1684, discerning her educational call."

Monastery of Santa Rosa

• Historic convent linked to her Dominican formation, qualifying as a diocesan shrine for contemplative prayer and historical tours under Canon 1230.
• Pilgrimage details: Diplomatico s.n., Viterbo, Italy; 13th century origins; annual commemorations; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Inspired her early vow at age seven, per hagiographic tradition."

Church of the Gesù

• Initial burial site, now a devotion center for her intercession in education, designated for pilgrimages with relic expositions.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza del Gesù, 00186 Rome, Italy; Jesuit church; May 7 Masses; Diocese of Rome.
• Facts: "Entombed here until 1952, where early miracles were reported."

Cathedral of Viterbo

• Diocesan shrine honoring her as patron, with side chapel for veneration and educational exhibits.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza San Lorenzo, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; medieval; feast processions; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Bishop Sacchetti approved her first school here in 1685."

Venerini Academy Chapel

• U.S. foundation site, designated for immigrant devotions and teacher formation under Canon 1230.
• Pilgrimage details: 240 Rev. Michael C. Scanlan, T.O.R. Dr., Worcester, MA 01610, USA; founded 1929; May novenas; Diocese of Worcester.
• Facts: "Reflects her mission among Italian immigrants since 1909."

Basilica of Montefiascone

• Site of her early expansions, pilgrimage center for her schools' legacy with relic fragments.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 01027 Montefiascone, Italy; 15th century; annual events; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Opened 10 schools here 1692–1694, training St. Lucia Filippini."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process began in the 18th century with local cult, formal diocesan investigation in Viterbo after her death.

Venerable

Declared Venerable in the 19th century based on virtues and early cult.

Beatification

Beatified on 4 May 1952 by Pope Pius XII after confirmation of miracles attributed to her intercession.

Canonization

Canonized on 15 October 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI following recognition of a second miracle attributed to her intercession.

Miracles

According to Church records, miracles confirmed her sanctity, though specific details are limited in public sources. Posthumous intercessions often involve healings and vocational graces.

Miracle for beatification

A miracle involving healing was authenticated for beatification, contributing to her 1952 declaration.

Miracle for canonization

A second miracle, a healing attributed to her intercession, was verified for canonization in 2006.

Other notable miracles

• Immediate claims of healings at her tomb in Church of the Gesù after 1728.
• Graces of perseverance for educators, per congregational annals.

Patronage

Saint Rose Venerini is the patron saint of exiles, people rejected by religious orders, tertiaries, and Viterbo, Italy.

Feast day

May 07

Veneration

Saint Rose is venerated through novenas for educators, relic pilgrimages to Rome and Viterbo, and in the Maestre Pie Venerini apostolate. Relics are in the Generalate chapel, Rome. Depicted in art with books and girls, symbolizing her mission. Literature includes her biographies; no known writings by her. Shrines influence teacher formation and women's education events.

Books

Written about the saint

• Saint Rose Venerini: Teacher in Italy by various authors
• Rosa Venerini: Foundress of the Maestre Pie Venerini (Italian edition)

Written by the saint

No writings attributed to Saint Rose Venerini.

External links

• Catholic Online: St. Rose Venerini
• Vatican: Biography of Saint Rose Venerini
• Maestre Pie Venerini Official Site
• Franciscan Media: Saint Rose Venerini