Saint Rose of Viterbo

At a very early age Rose proved herself to be very different from her contemporaries, what made her so different is her outstanding and obvious holiness in one so young.

What is known of Rose is that she was born around the year 1235 to poor parents and had to earn her living from a very young age, as many children had to do in order to feed themselves and provide a roof over their heads. In the thirteenth century there were no social or welfare services, to help out the poorer families.

Rose was noticeable by her holiness mainly because many had fallen away from the Faith or had become lukewarm this was due also to the fact that Emperor Frederick II was persecuting the Church and its followers. During a time where many people worked from sun up to sun set with little or no breaks in between their work life and their home life many resorted to simple but mindless pleasures to help alleviate the dreariness of their lives. This is why Rose stood out amongst the crowd, unlike the rest of the people Rose remained steadfast and grounded in the Church with a filial love and devotion.

From a young age Rose would pray before the Blessed Sacrament for hours with such love and devotion that many were in awe of this young girls evident holiness while others became annoyed at this girls faithfulness when they had let their own faith fall into lukewarmness. Rose from a young age grasped the fact that in order to gain any joy in life one must receive it from the Divine, for true peace can only come through Christ. This was a lesson that stamped itself into this young girls life as she prayed with zealousness and practiced mortifications upon herself.

The practice of severe penances was normal in the Era that Rose lived, as many holy and devout souls enjoined Christ in His suffering for the love of all mankind. During these difficult years while many suffered from oppression it was Rose who understood that it is God who ennobles all that we do so long as it is done with love and obedience to His Will. So no matter how hard times were or how difficult it was to survive it is God that strengthens the soul to persevere. Rose understood that it is God that gives us the joy we seek and not in a gaining of 'worldly' comforts.

Due to her severe mortifications Rose became ill, and even though friends and family tried to make her become less severe still Rose continued to suffer for the sake of souls. Even from a young age Rose longed to join a Religious Order, her dearest dream did not become a reality, but Rose accepted all as the Will of God deemed it.

It was during one of these severe illnesses that Rose nearly lost her life as consumption consumed her ragged and worn body made weak through her severe penances. When all seemed lost, Rose suddenly leaned up from her bed and exclaimed to those present, "All of you here, why do you not greet the Queen of the world? Do you not see Mary, the August Mother of my God, coming forward? Let us go to meet Her, and prostrate ourselves before Her majesty!" Those gathered at her death bed were astonished as they could not see what Rose herself was seeing that through the intervention of our Blessed Mother, Rose was cured. Our Lady also informed Rose that she would enter the Third Order of the Franciscans, but this would not be welcomed by all as Our Lady informed Rose, "reprove, convince, exhort and bring back the erring to the paths of salvation. If your endeavors bring upon you sarcasm and mockery, persecution and labor, you must bear them patiently... Those who assist you will be enriched with all the graces of the Lord."

From these words Rose's mission in life became reality as she endeavored to fulfill what our Lady had instructed her. She had a great love for the poor and practiced the corporal works of mercy while instructing and reproving those who had fallen away from the Faith. These were also perilous times as Rose fell foul of the Emperor and with her parents she had to flee her native town of Viterbo. When it came to protecting the Church Rose had the courage of a lioness protecting her young, she was truly fearless in the face of oppression.

There were many miracles attributed to this holy young girl as she lived her Faith with fierce courage and fortitude. It is thought that Rose raised her Aunt from the dead, and when she confronted a sorceress in her region Rose was tied to a burning pyre where the flames did not touch her, many who witnessed this miracle converted back to their Faith.

Though Rose was never to become a Religious Sister, still she served the Church through the Third Order Franciscans.

Due to her many mortifications which may have strengthened her soul it invariably weakened her body. Rose became very ill and died at only 18 years of age, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Rose of Viterbo died in the year 1251.

Saint Rose of Viterbo was canonized in the year 1457 by Pope Callistus III.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Saint John Fisher

Like his friend Thomas More, John Fisher would also pay the ultimate price for his fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church at the hands of the vindictive and heretical King Henry the VIII.

Unlike Thomas More and John Fisher, King Henry VIII was ruled more by lustful passions than zealous principles! It comes as no surprise that this despotic ruler would murder two of the Churches finest men and all for whim, as he allowed his lust to have full reign, rather than his conscience!

John Fisher was born in the year 1460 to prosperous parents who wanted the best for their very bright and intelligent son, they sent their son to the university of Cambridge where he earned his degree in theology in the year 1487. He then spent a few years as Vicar of Northallerton before moving on to become Proctor of his university he earned a D.D in theology in the year 1501, thus making him one of the most learned theologians of his time.

He was a man of many gifts and of a resolute nature this was acknowledged at his university where was not only Proctor but also vice-chancellor before becoming chancellor for life a great honour indeed. During these busy years he met Lady Margaret Beaufort he would eventually become her Confessor and friend. It was with the encouragement of John Fisher that Lady Margaret donated considerable sums of money to the university. Upon her death in 1509 Lady Margaret Beaufort bequeathed to John Fisher some land in which she wished to build a college which would become known as St. Johns College.

Life went along fairly smoothly for John Fisher as he was given more responsibility within his area of skill, he was known for his quiet manner, deep devotion to the Church and his love of learning which he wished to share with all those he came into contact with. He had learned the skill of diplomacy and his personal integrity was never in question, though he was a learned man, he also had a deep love and concern for the poor.

In 1504 John was made Bishop of Rochester a position he maintained for thirty years. He proved to be a good Bishop and kept in touch with all people from all walks of life. He was very much a hands on Bishop who had the wellbeing of his parish at the forefront of his mind, and to instruct future Priests into the Faith with as much devotion as he had within himself.

It was around the time that Martin Luther who challenged the very fabric of the Church, that John Fisher would become close friends with Thomas More as they both sought to denounce Luther's heretical position. In conjunction with Thomas More, John Fisher wrote his apologetic in reference to the Luther heresy in his work 'Confutatio'. The difference with John Fishers work is that while he denounced the error of Luther he did not resort to personal insults or attacks but rather wrote the Truth to expose the Luther error while maintaining the Christian virtue of prudence over bluster.

While both Thomas More and John Fisher worked on refuting Luther's challenge, they also worked alongside the King which would prove to be their undoing. While both Thomas and John were moral men of high principles, King Henry the VIII was not as they would soon find out.

So it was in the year 1527 that King Henry VIII decided to annul the marriage of his first wife Catherine of Aragon, a deeply devout woman of the Church. The King knowing of John's deep virtue and great knowledge sent Cardinal Wosley to seek out the opinion of John Fisher concerning the Kings right to divorce his first wife. John Fisher gave this request much thought and after investigating the issue he sided with Rome on the issue of divorce, this displeased King Henry the VIII greatly!

John Fisher was a man of remarkable character who would not be swayed from his love of the Church and so remained an obedient son of the Church till the end, for John never reversed his first assessment of the Kings position, the King was wrong and Rome was right! Just as in the case of his good friend Thomas More, John must have realised his days were numbered for no-one crossed this out of control King without punishment. Being a resolute and unswerving man of high principles John courageously spoke out in favour of Queen Catherine and that the Kings marriage remained intact in the eyes of the Church despite King Henry's wanton disregard towards the Church's Teaching.

Things came to a head when upon marrying Anne Boleyn, the King insisted that an oath be taken that recognised that only the children of the King and Queen Anne be recognised as legitimate this was anathema to both John and Thomas More, both refused to make the oath. This action enraged the King and infuriated the headstrong young Queen, and both men found themselves arrested and taken to the Tower, a fearful place to be.

It was also discovered that John Fisher was seriously ill but the King showed no compassion and was further enraged when the Catholic Church pronounced that John would henceforth be known as Cardinal of the title of St. Vitalis. This was too much for the King and he urged with full malice to try and implicate John Fisher in open heresy towards himself. The King used one of his confidants to seek out John Fisher and to request his private opinion on the King becoming the Head of the Church of England, John trusted this particular man and replied to the question 'that the King was not, nor could be, by the law of God, Supreme Head of the church of England.' This would seal Johns fate.

Though John Fisher had serious health problems which may have been terminal the Kings malice towards this honorable man knew no bounds and he ordered the execution of this most noble and Godly man of principle to be beheaded.

John Fisher died in the year 1535.

Saint John Fisher was canonized in the year 1935 by Pope Pius XI.

His Feast Day is shared alongside his noble friend Saint Thomas More who shared his fate.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

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Blessed Mother Marianne Cope

Though Barbara Koob was born in Germany in the year 1838, she did not live the rest of her life in her native country as her parents migrated to America in the hope of finding a better life for them all. The family settled in New York a bustling conglomerate of different migrants who like the Koob family hoped to live more prosperous lives in the land of the free. In order for the family to fit into their new country Barbara's parents changed their name from the German Koob to a more Anglicized Cope.

Barbara belonged to a large and loving family consisting of nine other siblings which kept the young girl busy as she helped out her mother in raising them, it also stalled her own plans of entering the Religious life. Once her siblings had reached maturity only then did Barbara follow her calling to live as a Religious and serve God.

At the age of 24 in the year 1862 Barbara entered the Order of the Sisters of St. Francis, upon receiving her habit she changed her name to Sister Marianne. When she made her religious Vows she began her work as a Sister by teaching in elementary schools, the years spent helping her mother with her younger siblings would prove invaluable.

As in many cases though Sister Marianne's life would take another turn as her skills were directed towards nursing and administration, but deep in her heart Marianne had a deep love for people which was shown by her compassionate nature towards all.

Like many Saints before her Sister Marianne became well known for her common sense attitude towards solving problems her approachable demeanor and gentle personality was loved by all. Once again though Sister Marianne's life would take yet another turn when she received a letter from a Priest requesting help in the Hawaiian Islands.

Mother Marianne along with some fellow Sisters set sail for Honolulu in 1883 where they would work as missionaries. Upon arriving both Mother Marianne and her Sisters were shocked at the deplorable state of the unhygienic hospitals, being very practical by nature Mother Marianne soon got to work and cleaned up the hospital used by those suffering with leprosy, a most dreaded and stigmatized disease.

The suffering of the lepers touched a deep chord in the heart of Mother Marianne but not only for the lepers but the family members who visited these diseased ravaged victims. This most compassionate of women then set about with her other Sisters to build a home for the children of the diseased lepers so that they too may be safe while at the same time stay in the vicinity of their ill parents.

Leprosy in those days was considered by some to be a punishment from God, Mother Marianne tried to counter act this terrible ignorance and the real fear that many had towards the lepers by educating those around her, while displaying a fearless courage in the knowledge that she too could catch this dreaded disease.

Nothing deterred this most wonderful woman, and upon learning that Fr. Damien had also contracted leprosy, Mother Marianne received him into her loving hospital community. Though this remarkable woman was fearless when confronting this disease not everyone had the same courage and upon a change in Government it was decided by the Governing body to exile the lepers to another colony. This was deeply disturbing to Mother Marianne but nonetheless she took up the challenge and went to serve and live amidst her loving community of leper victims, on the island of Molokai.

When Mother Marianne arrived it soon became evident that Fr. Damien did not have long to live and with her loving and compassionate heart she nursed this remarkable Priest while assuring him that his home for the boys would continue under her supervision. This quieted the ravaged body of Fr. Damien and he died peacefully a few months after Mother Marianne's arrival. Many lepers came to love Mother Marianne for her continual spirit of joy and compassion, she never made them feel unclean or unsightly. Her unfailing good spirits helped raise the spirits of all those around her, including her exhausted fellow Sisters.

Mother Marianne was to serve her community for the rest of her life, and unlike Fr. Damien she did not contract this dreaded illness but died of natural causes.

Mother Marianne Cope died in 1918.

Blessed Mother Marianne Cope was Beatified in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Peace of Christ to ALL

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

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