Note: For the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring women who were beatified or canonized in the 20th or 21st centuries.
The Basics: Born February 9, 1656, in Italy; died May 7, 1728, in Italy; canonized October 15, 2006, by Benedict XVI; feast day, May 7; teacher.
The Story: Rosa’s life is one of service through education. It took time to discern her vocation; she was 
engaged as a young woman, but her fiance died. At twenty, she entered a monastery, but came home to care for her widowed mother, who along with Rosa’s brother died a few years later. Rosa began inviting friends and other women into her home to pray the rosary together, and was troubled by the lack of religious education many of them showed. As a result, with the support of the Catholic Church and some friends, she opened with little fanfare Italy’s first public school for girls. Some were scandalized at a woman taking on this task, in particular providing religious instruction, but Rosa and her followers didn’t let that stop them. (One of her followers, Lucy Filippini, would take over some of Rosa’s schools and ultimately found schools of her own and also be canonized.)
Rosa showed an unwavering belief in her ministry. She was invited to Rome in 1706 to establish a school, but the effort failed, which resulted in some criticism. Nonetheless, seven years later, she tried again and was successful.
Rosa’s Wisdom: “I feel so nailed to the will of God that nothing else matters, neither death nor life.”
What We Can Learn from Rosa: Where have you let a setback or failure stop an activity you know the Lord desires of you? Pray for the faith to dust yourself off… and get back on the journey.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my books, Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith or Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
