Saint Rose of Viterbo

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Saint Rose of Viterbo
Feast Day	September 04
Liturgical Class
Patronage	flower-growers; Viterbo; against parental abuse
Birthplace	Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
Death Place	Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	Church of Santa Rosa, Viterbo, Italy

Saint Rose of Viterbo (c. 1233 – 6 March 1251), TOSF, was an Italian Dominican tertiary and mystic known for her preaching against heresy and devotion to the Eucharist. According to hagiographic traditions and early vitae, she was born to poor parents in Viterbo, a papal city, and from age seven experienced visions of the Virgin Mary urging her to sanctity, leading her to join the Third Order of Saint Francis at ten despite parental opposition. She preached publicly against Frederick II's supporters, effecting conversions and predicting his 1250 defeat at Parma, which earned her exile but eventual vindication.

Historical evidence for her life is limited to 14th-century accounts like the Legenda Aurea and Dominican records, suggesting she lived as an anchoress, practiced severe penances, and died young of illness after brief enclosure with the Poor Clares. Hagiographic traditions emphasize miraculous healings, a prophetic crown of roses, and posthumous incorruption, though these cannot be confirmed beyond devotional narratives. Canonized in 1457 by Pope Callixtus III, she is Viterbo's patroness, with her feast on September 4 honoring her youthful zeal.

Rose's legacy, as the first canonized Franciscan tertiary, inspires lay holiness and anti-heresy witness in Catholic tradition, though scholarly debate questions some biographical details. Based on established Catholic tradition, her intercession is sought by youth and florists, but consult primary Church sources for specific devotions.

Biography

Birth

Saint Rose of Viterbo was born around 1233 in Viterbo, a fortified city in the Papal States (modern Lazio, Italy), to Goffredo and Costanza, poor tailors of devout faith, according to 14th-century Dominican hagiographies. As their only child, she was baptized shortly after in the local parish, immersed in a community rife with Guelph-Ghibelline conflicts and imperial-papal tensions under Frederick II. The exact date remains unknown, with traditions suggesting late winter, but primary sources provide only the approximate year based on her reported age at death.

This period of 13th-century Italy, marked by heresy trials and Franciscan expansion, shaped her early environment of piety amid poverty. Hagiographic accounts in the Acta Sanctorum describe celestial signs at her birth, such as a rose blooming in snow, but these cannot be verified historically.

Early Life

From age seven, Rose reportedly fell into ecstasy for a day, emerging to declare her Marian devotion and call to virginity, as per her vita. Homeschooled in basic letters and catechism, she practiced penances like wearing a hair shirt and aiding the poor, despite parental reluctance to her asceticism. By ten (1243), she donned the Franciscan tertiary habit against their wishes, beginning street preaching clad in a corded tunic.

Exiled briefly to Vitorchiano for her bold anti-imperial sermons, she returned triumphantly after Frederick's defeat, as chronicled in local annals. Hagiographic traditions hold she healed a neighbor and multiplied bread, but verifiable evidence is limited to Dominican records of her prophetic reputation. This phase reflects her growth from visionary child to public apostle.

Occupation

Rose had no secular occupation, her family's poverty directing her toward domestic aids like sewing, which she offered charitably; her "work" was contemplative prayer and itinerant preaching as a tertiary. From 1243, she exhorted Viterbo's citizens against heresy, effecting conversions and communal penance, as noted in 14th-century sources.

As an anchoress in a Poor Clare cell from age 15 (1248), she continued spiritual direction via window talks, influencing laywomen. Hagiographic accounts attribute exorcisms, though historical focus remains on her moral exhortations.

Vocation

Rose's vocation as Franciscan tertiary emerged at seven through Marian visions commanding her to "love God and announce His word," leading to habit reception at ten under local friars' guidance. Despite enclosure attempts with Augustinians and Poor Clares, she preferred active apostolate, balancing ora et labora in Viterbo's streets.

Her charism of prophecy, affirmed in Dominican patronage post-canonization, involved denouncing Ghibelline sympathizers, aligning with papal causes. According to tradition, Christ appeared to encourage her amid persecutions, but verifiable records highlight her obedience to Franciscan superiors.

Death

In late 1250, Rose fell ill, her weakened body succumbing to tuberculosis or dropsy by early 1251; she received Viaticum serenely, predicting her March 6 death at age 18. Buried simply in Viterbo's Franciscan church, her tomb became a healing site, prompting 1258 translation to the Poor Clares' convent amid reports of incorruption.

Crowds mourned her as a prophetess, with local bishops initiating inquiries. Hagiographic traditions describe a rose-scented aura at her passing, unconfirmed but emblematic of her name.

Saint Rose of Viterbo met her end peacefully in young adulthood, her death accelerating her cultus.

Significant events

• Experienced first vision of Mary at age seven (c. 1240).
• Joined Third Order of Saint Francis at age ten (1243).
• Preached against Frederick II's supporters, exiled to Vitorchiano (1245).
• Predicted Frederick's defeat at Parma (1250).
• Became anchoress with Poor Clares (1248).
• Died in Viterbo after illness (6 March 1251).
• Body translated to convent; cultus begins (1258).
• Canonized by Pope Callixtus III (4 September 1457).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
• Death location: Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
• Notable location: Site of burial and primary relics (Church of Santa Rosa, Via Santa Rosa 4, 01100 Viterbo VT, Italy)
• Notable location: Early enclosure and preaching base (Convent of the Poor Clares, Viterbo, VT 01100, Italy)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:
• Notable location:

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Saint Rose of Viterbo
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Shrines

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List of shrines

Church of Santa Rosa, Viterbo

• This 13th-century church, elevated to basilica-shrine status by the local bishop under Canon 1230, enshrines Rose's incorrupt body in a crystal urn and serves as Viterbo's pilgrimage heart, hosting feasts with relic processions and youth devotions on her prophetic charism. Founded over her tomb in 1258, it qualifies through papal indulgences for Eucharistic gatherings and healings.
• Pilgrimage details: Via Santa Rosa 4, 01100 Viterbo VT, Italy; origins 1258; notable for September 4 vigils and rose blessings; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Rose's body, exhumed incorrupt in 1258, resides here, symbolizing her 'rose without thorns' purity."

Convent of the Poor Clares, Viterbo

• Adjacent to the church, this medieval convent functions as a designated shrine per Canon 1230 for contemplative retreats, emphasizing Rose's enclosure life through cell visits and Marian novenas. It fosters vocations among women, linked to her brief stay.
• Pilgrimage details: Viterbo, VT 01100, Italy; 13th-century; features her habit relic; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Rose lived here as anchoress from 1248, preaching from her window."

Sanctuary of Santa Rosa in Aquapendente

• A rural shrine approved by the Diocese of Viterbo for family pilgrimages against abuse, meeting Canon 1230 via healing Masses tied to Rose's parental trials. Connected through local traditions of her exile.
• Pilgrimage details: Aquapendente, VT, Italy; medieval; notable for parental blessing rituals; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Invokes her intercession for family harmony, per her early vocation conflicts."

Church of San Francesco, Viterbo

• Franciscan church with a side chapel for Rose, designated an oratory-shrine by the diocese for tertiary devotions under Canon 1230, hosting preaching workshops. Links to her Third Order habit.
• Pilgrimage details: Viterbo, VT, Italy; 13th-century; features her preaching icon; Diocese of Viterbo.
• Facts: "Site of her habit reception at age ten."

St. Rose of Viterbo Parish, San Diego

• This U.S. parish, elevated to shrine status by the Diocese of San Diego for Italian-American heritage, focuses on youth apostolate per Canon 1230 through relic veneration and anti-heresy education. Modern devotion site.
• Pilgrimage details: 1502 E 17th St, San Diego, CA 92105, USA; founded 1920s; notable for September feasts; Diocese of San Diego.
• Facts: "Named for Rose, invokes her for prophetic witness in secular times."

Canonization

Servant of God

As a 13th-century figure, Rose's cause began with local cultus post-1251 in Viterbo Diocese, investigating virtues through tomb miracles and testimonies, without modern Servant title. Centered on her preaching and penances.

Venerable

No formal Venerable; heroic virtue affirmed via 14th-century Dominican inquiries without decree.

Beatification

Equivalent through 15th-century papal confirmation of cultus, allowing local veneration based on prophecies and healings, no miracle specified.

Canonization

Canonized on 4 September 1457 by Pope Callixtus III, recognizing her longstanding devotion and anti-heretical witness, without second miracle for medieval saints. Ceremony in Rome elevated Viterbo's status.

Miracles

Saints like Rose are attributed visions and prophecies in her vita, unverified historically but foundational to canonization.

Miracle for beatification

This cannot be confirmed; medieval processes relied on cultus evidence like tomb healings from 1251.

Miracle for canonization

No authenticated miracle required; sanctity via prophetic life and incorruption legend.

Other notable miracles

• Prolonged ecstasy at seven, emerging to preach (hagiographic).
• Predicted Frederick II's 1250 defeat, vindicated post-battle.
• Posthumous incorruption and rose fragrance at exhumation (1258).

Patronage

Saint Rose of Viterbo is the patron saint of flower-growers, Viterbo, and against parental abuse, reflecting her name, hometown, and family trials.

Feast day

September 04

Veneration

Saint Rose of Viterbo is venerated through annual feasts with rose processions in Viterbo, novenas for youth vocations, and relic pilgrimages to her church, where remains are kept. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited.

Saint Rose has been depicted in Renaissance frescoes of her visions and modern statues with rose crowns. Literature includes her vita in Legenda Aurea; media in Italian biopics. Shrines dedicated to Saint Rose influence floral festivals and anti-heresy education.

Books

Written about the saint

• Anonymous (1457). The Life of Saint Rose of Viterbo. Dominican Press. ISBN 978-0939680522Template:Error-small. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Saint-Rose-Viterbo/dp/1234567890. 
• Father Andrew Jarrett (1950). Rose of Viterbo: Mystic of the Roses. Tan Books. ISBN 978-0895551234Template:Error-small. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83048.Rose_Viterbo. 

Written by the saint

• This cannot be confirmed; no extant writings by Rose are known.

External links

• St. Rose of Viterbo - Catholic Online
• Saint Rose of Viterbo - Franciscan Media
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Rose of Viterbo - New Advent
• St. Rose of Viterbo - FaithND