St. Rafqa, who died on March 23, 1914, was a holy Lebanese religious who dedicated her life to Jesus Christ and was canonized by St. John Paul II.
The Middle East is full of wonderful examples of holy men and women who were faithful to Jesus Christ throughout their lives. St. Rafqa is one of those shining lights in the darkness and remains a powerful intercessor for peace. Her feast day is on March 23, the day of her death.
Born on June 29, 1832, in Lebanon, Rafqa was urged by her relatives to marry at the age of 14, but she refused all proposals. She felt called to spend her life dedicated to God, and one day fled to the local convent.
Through a series of events she joined what is now known as the Order of Saint Anthony of the Maronites.
According to a Vatican biography on her life, "She was to spend the next 26 years in the monastery of St. Simon. In her observation of the rule, her devotion to prayer and silence, in her life of sacrifice and austerity, she was a role model to the other nuns."
... she was capable like [Jesus] of never giving up on a human being ...
Intercessor for the Middle East
After St. John Paul II canonized her in 2001, he held her up as a powerful intercessor for peace in a region of the world plagued by war.
He made these comments in an address to those gathered for the canonizations:
In the Middle East, ravaged by so many murderous conflicts and unjust sufferings, the witness of this Lebanese sister remains a source of confidence for those who are being tried. Because she lived in close union with Jesus, she was capable like him of never giving up on a human being. She became the discreet and effective sign that the Easter Mystery of Christ continues to transform the world to make grow the hope of a new life offered to all men and women of good will.
St. John Paul II continued his commentary on her witness in the region, and asked everyone to pray through her intercession for peace:
By accepting suffering as a means for loving Christ and neighbor better, she lived to an eminent degree the missionary dimension of her consecrated life, drawing from the Trinity the force to offer her life for the world and completing in her own flesh whatever "was lacking to the sufferings of Christ" (Col 1,24). May sick people, the afflicted, refugees of war and all the victims of hatred yesterday and today, find in St. Rafqa a life companion, so that by her intercession, they can continue to search for the reasons to hope still and to build peace.
She was a holy woman, one who suffered greatly in this life, offering all physical maladies to God, so that she could be united with Jesus on the cross.
St. Rafqa of Lebanon, pray for us and pray for peace in the Middle East!
