ST RAFQA SHABAQ AL-RAYES, VIRGIN

ST RAFQA SHABAQ AL-RAYES, VIRGIN - 23 MARCH

SAINT RAFQA SHABAQ AL-RAYES, VIRGIN

Saint Rafqa (Rebecca) was born in Himlaya, one of the villages of Northern Metn (Lebanon), on June 29, 1832. She was the only child of Mourad Saber el-Choboq el Rayess and Rafqa Gemayel.

HER BAPTISM

On July 7, 1832 she was baptised and named Boutroussieh. Her parents taught her the love of God and the practice of daily prayer. At age seven, she suffered her first great loss with the death of her mother. When she was old enough, her father sent her into service for four years in the home of Assaad Badawi.

A CHANGE IN FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES

Upon returning home she found that her father had remarried. His new wife wanted Rafqa to marry her brother. At this time, Rafqa felt drawn to the religious life. She asked God to help her achieve her desire and set off for the convent of Our Lady of Deliverance in Bikfaya, accompanied by two girls whom she met along the road.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

When she entered the convent church, she felt deep joy and happiness. One look at the icon of Our Lady of Deliverance, and she heard God's voice confirming her desire to enter religious life. Following a year of postulancy, Rafqa received the habit of her congregation on the feast of St Joseph, March 19, 1861. A year later, she pronounced her first vows.

SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF KITCHEN SERVICE

The new nun, along with sister Mary Gemayel, was assigned to work in the Jesuit-run seminary in Ghazir. Among the seminarians were Elias Houwayek and Boutros el-Zoghbi, later to become Partriarch and Archbishop, respectively. Rafqa was in charge of kitchen service. In her free time she studied Arabic, calligraphy and mathematics and also helped to educate girls aspiring to join her congregation.

RAFQA WAS SENT TO TEACH CATECHISM

In 1860 Rafqa was sent to Deir el-Kamar to teach catechism. There she witnessed the bloody clashes that occurred in Lebanon during this period. On one occasion, she risked her own life by hiding a child under her robe and saving him from death. After a year in Deir el-Kamar, Rafqa returned to Ghazir. In 1862, she was sent to teach in a school of her order in Byblos. One year later, she was transferred to Maad village. There, with another nun, she spent seven years establishing a new school for girls, made possible through the generosity of Antoun Issa.

A ROLE MODEL TO THE OTHER NUNS

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.

THE PRAYER FOR SUFFERING IN UNION WITH OUR LORD JESUS

On the first Sunday of October 1885, she entered the monastery church and began to pray, asking Jesus to permit her to experience some of the suffering He endured during His passion. Her prayer was immediately answered. Unbearable pains began in her head and moved to her eyes. Her superior insisted that she undergo medical treatment. After all local attempts to cure her had failed, she was sent to Beirut for treatment.

SHE REMAINED PATIENT AND UNCOMPLAINING

For the next 12 years she continued to experience intense pain in her head. Throughout this period, as before, she remained patient and uncomplaining, praying in thanksgiving for the gift of sharing in Jesus' suffering.

THE MONASTERY OF ST JOSEPH

In 1897, six nuns, led by Mother Ursula Doumit, were sent to the monastery of St Joseph al Dahr in Jrabta, Batroun. Rafqa was among them. In 1899, she lost the sight in her left eye. With this a new stage of her suffering began, intensified by the dislocation of her clavicle and her right hip and leg. Her vertebrae were visible through her skin. Her face was spared and remained shining to the end. Her hands stayed intact; and she used them to knit socks and make clothing. She thanked God for the use of her hands while also thanking Him for permitting her a share in His Son's suffering.

HER DEATH

Preparing for death, she called upon the Mother of God and St Joseph. Finally, on March 23, 1914, after a life of prayer and service, and years of unbearable pain, she rested in peace. She was buried in the monastery cemetery.

On July 10, 1927, her body was transferred to a shrine in the corner of the monastery chapel. Pope John Paul II declared her: Venerable on February 11, 1982. She was beatified on November 17, 1985.

From the Vatican website. The full article can be found here:

https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20010610_rafqa-choboq_en.html

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Rafqa may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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