On Inconstancy of Heart:  [I]

CHRIST.
My son, do not trust your affections, for they are changeable and
inconstant. All your life you are subject to change, even against your inclination.(Rom.8:20) At one time you are cheerful, at another sad;
now peaceful, now troubled: now full of devotion, now wholly lacking
it; now zealous, now slothful; now grave, now gay. But the wise man,
who is well versed in spiritual matters, stands above these changing
emotions. He pays small regard to his momentary feelings and whims,
but directs all the powers of his mind towards the right and true end.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 33

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September 4th - Saint Rose of Viterbo, Virgin, Visionary
c.1233-1251

This Italian girl made public speeches in the streets of Viterbo when
she was only 12 years old. It was the time when Emperor Frederick II
was struggling to make Rome the civil as well as the ecclesiastical
capital of the known world, with himself as the chieftain of a united
empire of Germany and Italy. Pope Gregory IX had entered an alliance
with the Lombards and several other groups when Frederick attacked the Lombards, Gregory excommunicated him. Frederick then set out to
conquer the papal states and the independent cities of the north. By
1240 he had occupied Viterbo, dividing the city into two noisy
factions, Guelfs and Ghibellines.

Such was the world into which Saint Rose of Viterbo was born, the
child of poor parents. She showed a degree of virtue unusual in a
child, and a legend tells that at the age of 3 she raised her aunt
from death by her prayers. At seven, Rose wished to live a solitary
life in a room in her parents' home but shortly afterward became ill
and was believed near death. After a vision of our Lady, who told her
she was to receive the habit of Saint Francis, Rose recovered and
became a Franciscan tertiary.

Involved in the political disturbances of the time was an heretical
faction called the Patareni, whose teachings were akin to the
Albigensian heresy in France. After a brief preparation in prayer and meditation on the Passion of Christ, Rose began to traverse the
streets of Viterbo with a crucifix or other sacred image in her hand,
calling out the names of Jesus and Mary and urging the people to
return to church-going. She was only 12 years old! Standing on a stone
because of her short stature she would cry out against the vices and
disorders of the day, explain the truths of the faith, and condemn the
errors and false doctrines of the heretics. This was a situation
distressing enough to the government, but when her speeches were
rumored to be attended by certain miracles, the crowds about her house increased until her father forbade her to appear in public under the
penalty of being beaten. Rose's answer was: "if Jesus could be beaten
for me, I can be beaten for Him." She knew what God wanted her to do.
Through the intervention of the parish priest, Rose was permitted by
her father to preach, and for two years she continued to preach
fidelity to the faith and to the pope. The ire of the heretics was
unbounded and they finally persuaded the official who governed the
city in the name of the emperor to banish Rose and her parents. At
Soriano, Rose continued her apostolic mission and on December 3, 1250, prophesied the death of Frederick, which took place 11 days later.

After the death of Frederick, the papal forces regained control of
Viterbo, and Rose and her parents returned. She applied for admission
to the convent of Saint Mary of the Roses but was refused by the
abbess. Rose took the refusal calmly: "You will not have me now, but
perhaps you will be more willing when I am dead."

Through the help of the parish priest a chapel near the convent was
opened as a religious center for Rose and a few companions. But the
convent demanded the privilege that no other religious community of
women should be situated within a given distance of their own, and an
order was obtained from Pope Innocent IV for the closing of Rose's
chapel. She returned to her parent's home where she continued her life
of prayer and penance, and died there a few months later at the age of
18.

Once more God had used one of the weak ones of the world to vanquish
the mighty. The people of Viterbo still honor Rose as protectress of
their city and there are two gay and colorful festivals every year to
celebrate her life and miracles and remind men that prayer and penance
can turn the tide of history.


Saint Quote:
Rose's dying words to her parents were: "I die with joy, for I desire
to be united to my God. Live so as not to fear death. For those who
live well in the world, death is not frightening, but sweet and
precious."
--Saint Rose of Viterbo

Bible Quote:
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all
sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in
all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God
who is working in all of them.  (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 )


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Prayer To Mary Consoler of the Afflicted

O Immaculate Mary, Dear Mother, Consoler, I take refuge in
your most lovable Heart with all the trust of which I am capable.
You shall be dearest object of my love and my veneration.

From you, the dispenser of heavenly treasures, I shall always
seek peace in my troubles, light in my doubts, defence in my
dangers, help in my needs.

Be therefore my refuge, my strength,
my consolation O Mary Consoler.

At the hour of my death, graciously receive the last beats of my heart,
and obtain for me a place in that heavenly country, where as one,
all hearts shall praise forever the adorable Heart of Jesus,
with your most lovable Heart, O Mary, my Mother.

Consoler of the Afflicted, pray for us, who have recourse to you.

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