Saint Rose once said: "I find myself so bound to the divine will that neither death nor life is important: I want to live as he wishes and I want to serve him as he likes, and nothing more" (Biografia Adreucci, p. 515). She did not want to keep this desire to herself, for she believed that education and catechesis were the tools necessary to liberate the soul from ignorance and misconduct. Her special charism was "to free from ignorance and evil so that the project of God which every person carries within could be made visible."
She took up this work of educating the young, and indeed this was to be her cross. Her work, as with many good works, did not begin easily. After much persecution, even from within her own parish, the fruits of her labors and of the labors of her fellow teachers became evident, and after some time Saint Rosa was invited to Rome to help found more schools. Pope Clement XI, after having visited some of her lessons and lessons by her teachers, remarked: "Signora Rosa, you are doing that which we cannot do. We thank you very much because with these schools you will sanctify Rome." Her followers, who were known as the Venerini Sisters, continued her life's work. Their motto, surely inspired by Saint Rosa, was "Educate to Save".
May we obtain such dedication, such zeal, and such charity as our patroness! Sancta Rosa, ora pro nobis!
Read the Vatican's Biography of St. Rose.
This is great, Alecia! I think we should add it to our tabs up top so that everyone who visits this blog can learn more about our patroness! May we help spread devotion to this beautiful saint as she looks over our co-op!
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