St. Elizabeth was the cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the wife of Zachariah, and the mother of St. John the Baptist. In St. Luke’s Gospel, she is depicted with Mary at the Visitation, where Mary recited the Magnificat. A descendant of Aaron (Luke1:5), Elizabeth, with Zachariah, lived around Jerusalem. When the Virgin Mary came to her door, Elizabeth was made aware of the presence of Christ in the womb. Owing to the fact that she was possessed of the fullness of Old Testament piety, she was herself graced with a son even though she was seemingly long past the age of being able to conceive. St. Elizabeth Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: November 5 Title/Attributes: Mother of St. John the Baptist, Cousin of Mary Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Elizabeth was the cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the wife of Zachariah, and the mother of St. John the Baptist. In St. Luke’s Gospel, she is depicted with Mary at the Visitation, where Mary recited the Magnificat. A descendant of Aaron (Luke1:5), Elizabeth, with Zachariah, lived around Jerusalem. When the Virgin Mary came to her door, Elizabeth was made aware of the presence of Christ in the womb. Owing to the fact that she was possessed of the fullness of Old Testament piety, she was herself graced with a son even though she was seemingly long past the age of being able to conceive. Luke 1:39-80 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. “And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant— As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us; To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Next Item Previous Item

Join our vibrant Catholic community of 7,500+ families at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX. Explore Mass, ministries, sacraments, and parish life. Welcome Home! Our Parish was founded in 1997. In September 2021, Fr. Jesse Garcia became the 4th Pastor of St, Anthony’s. Today, We are a growing, vibrant Catholic community of over 7,500 families. Stressing Stewardship as a way of life, our parish has over 100 active ministries with hundreds of parishioners active in parish, local community, diocesan-wide, and global outreach. We are blessed to be a part of such a vibrant Parish Community, but it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We suggest starting with the following: Fellowship Sunday Mass Times Join our Email List Location St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is located in The Woodlands, Texas. Main Church 7801 Bay Branch Drive The Woodlands, TX 77382 Our Lady of the Angels Chapel 8715 Kuykendahl Road Spring, Texas 77382 St. Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry 7985 Bay Branch Dr Spring TX 77382 Campus Map Download Our Apps Become Catholic If you are interested in Becoming Catholic or finishing your sacraments as an adult, visit our Becoming Catholic Page to learn more about the program. More Information Become a Parishioner Whether you are new to the faith, a returning Catholic, new to the area, or have been attending for years but never took the steps to join, we look forward to welcoming you! Register Today! Update my Information You can update your household information, contact information, and view your profile using the form below. Update Information Use the Nursery The nursery is available during Sunday Morning Mass, Spanish Mass and various other times for children 12 months-4 years of age. Reserve your spot using the link below. Nursery Reservation Schedule a Mass Intention If you would like to have Mass said for someone, please visit the Parish Office. We will help you with the dates and times that are available . An offering of $5 is suggested. Questions? Get Involved We have over 100 active ministries at our parish: community groups, bible studies, retreats, devotions, classes, organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities and much more! Ministries BACK TO TOP I'm New

Support or receive assistance from St. Vincent de Paul at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, TX. Help with rent, utilities, food, and more. How We Help WHAT IS THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL MINISTRY? The Society of SVDP is a Catholic lay organization, which leads women/men to join together to GROW SPIRITUALLY by offering PERSON TO PERSON SERVICE to the needy and suffering in the traditions of founder, Frederic Ozanam and patron St. Vincent De Paul. Essential Elements are Spirituality, Friendship and Service, as Christ teaches No work of charity is foreign: rent, utilities, vehicles, homes, food, disaster relief, prison ministries, etc. Core of our ministry starts with the home visit What can be accomplished with a HOME VISIT One sees and experiences the conditions that others face One can provide comfort and support One can pray with others One can show care and dignity Society of St. Vincent de Paul For those needing assistance Please call 281-466-1920 and leave a detailed message with your name and return phone number, and one of our members will contact you. Become A Volunteer The Founder of the Society of SVDP was Frederic Ozanam. Frederic and his Catholic friends were challenged with the question: “What is your church doing today to meet the needs of society and the poor?” Society of St Vincent De Paul was organized in 1833 in Paris, and quickly spread in Europe (Italy, England, etc), before coming to the United States in 1845 in St Louis. St. Vincent De Paul at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Approximately 50 members Meet twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. We are active for 2 out of 4 weeks in a month We provide funds for rent, utilities, car payments, furniture, medicine & more. We often work with the St. Anthony’s Bread food pantry to provide food. Our individual responsibilities include answering phones, scheduling and conducting home visits, pledging funds and paying client bills. We conduct roughly 8 to 12 home visits per week We distribute $12,000 to $13,000 twice a month, based on the donations received from the parish to the SVDP ministry Volunteer with SVdP You will go and visit the poor ten times a day and ten times a day you will find God there. -Saint Vincent De Paul Donate to SVdP Society BACK TO TOP

Andrew, whose name is Greek for "courage" or "virility," was the son of a Galilean fisherman named Jonas and the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew lived in Capernaum, and was a follower of St. John the Baptist before being called by Christ. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah and introduced him to his brother Simon Peter. With Peter, James the Elder, and John, Andrew formed the inner circle of Jesus' Apostles. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patrae. Andrew was tied, not nailed, to his cross, so that his suffering would be prolonged. His martyrdom was believed to have taken place on November 30th in 60 AD. His feast day is November 30th. St. Andrew the Apostle Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: November 30 Title/Attributes: Apostle, Martyr Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Andrew was Saint Peter's brother and was called with him. "As [Jesus] was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him" (Matthew 4:18-20). Saint John the Evangelist presents Saint Andrew as a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. "Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come, and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day." (John 1:38-39a). Little else is said about Saint Andrew in the Gospels. Before the multiplication of the loaves, it was Saint Andrew who spoke up about boy who had the barley loaves and fishes (see John 6:8-9). When the Gentiles went to see Jesus, they came to Philip, but Philip had recourse to Andrew (see John 12:20-22). Legend has it that Saint Andrew preached the Good News in what is now modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras. The Gospels give us little about the holiness of Saint Andrew. He was an Apostle. That is enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with Jesus' power and to share his life and death. Saint Andrew was martyred and crucified. He asked to be nailed to a cross different from the Cross of Jesus. In his case it was a diagonal or X-shaped cross, which has thus become known as Saint Andrew's Cross. 1 Foley, Leonard, and Pat McCloskey. Saint of the Day. 7th ed., Franciscan Media, 2013. Next Item Previous Item

Scheduling Meetings Parish Space Availability Facilities issues an annual Parish Space Availability calendar which illustrates the dates available for event scheduling. Standard Hours Available for Scheduling Sunday: 8:00am to Noon (Noon-9:00pm reserved for Children’s Faith Formation, Sacramental Classes & Youth Ministry) Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 8:30pm Saturday: 8:00am to 8:30pm Actual locking and unlocking of doors is based on campus activity, and not on the hours noted above. Exterior doors may be locked before the end of your meeting. Meetings must end promptly. Evening groups will be asked to leave so campus can be secured. Cancellations Space is at a premium and assets are being utilized to support your event. Notice of cancellations should be sent as soon as possible to your staff director/coordinator so that space can be rebooked and assets reassigned. Annual Scheduling St. Anthony’s utilizes an annual scheduling process. The process allows Facilities to receive all requests simultaneously and optimize space when booking the overall parish schedule. Scheduling packets are distributed by and returned to your staff director/coordinator. Adjustments to Your Annual Schedule Timely requests for changes to your annual schedule should be emailed to your staff director/coordinator. Attendance Every ministry is required to take attendance of every meeting so we can accurately assess the space and the needs of our ministries. Attendance forms are in every meeting space on campus. Please complete and place in the "Completed Attendance Forms" folder. Should your group use a different format for attendance, please submit to Casey Barnes at cbarnes@ap.church . Scheduling Request Form- Sample .xlsx Download XLSX • 20KB Previous Item Next Item

St. Ignatius of Loyola, born Íñigo López de Loyola in 1491, was a Spanish nobleman and soldier whose life changed after a battle injury led him to deep spiritual reflection. Inspired by the lives of Christ and the saints, he underwent a powerful conversion and dedicated himself to God's service. Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1534, an order devoted to education, missionary work, and obedience to the pope. He is best known for his Spiritual Exercises, a guide to deepening one’s relationship with God. Ignatius died in 1556 and is the patron of spiritual retreats and discernment. St. Ignatius Loyola Time Period: 1491-1556 Feast Day: July 31 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Founder Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: From the bone and cassock Íñigo (Ignatius) López de Loyola was born in the family castle of Loyola in Azpeitia, in the Basque province, Spain, to a noble family in 1491. In keeping with family tradition, Ignatius became a soldier. He was a great warrior and was looking to make a career out of it, until he was wounded in the leg by a cannonball during a siege of Pampeluna. Ignatius was devasted and had a long road of recovery ahead of him. During his recovery, Ignatius was distraught and didn’t know what he was going to do with his life, if he couldn’t be a solider. Ignatius picked up a few books while recovering and read the Life of Christ and the lives of the saints. He underwent a remarkable conversion and new found zeal and purpose for life. By 1522, he was absolutely determined to become a saint, leaving the family castle and embarking on a pilgrimage to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat. There he confessed his sins, and dressed in sackcloth, and placed his sword on the altar of the Blessed Virgin, to whom he dedicated himself as a knight. Living for a time in a cave, he developed rapidly in the spiritual life and began work on his masterpiece, the famed Spiritual Exercises. He left Manresa in 1523 and went to Rome and then Jerusalem, where he lived entirely on alms and worked to covert local Muslims. At the urging of the Franciscans, who were quite concerned for Ignatius’ life, he retuned to Barcelona. Deciding that he needed to be better educated in order to aid others properly. Ignatius spent the next eleven years in the study, at Alcala, Salamanca, and Paris. On March 14, 1534, he received a master of arts degree. During this time, Ignatius gathered around him a group of followers who sought to join him in his spiritual quest. On August 15, 1534, in the chapel of the Benedictine monastery of Paris, they each took vows of poverty and chastity, with the special hope of missionary pilgrimages to the Holy Land, with particular obedience to the Holy See. This moment witnessed the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. They went to Italy and were ordained in 1537, but it was soon clear that a pilgrimage was impossible. They thus presented themselves to the Holy Father and offered their services. Pope Paul III immediately saw their potential and gave oral approval for the order in 1539. Formal approbation came in 1540 through the formula instituted in the bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae. Ignatius was elected the first general of the order, receiving the first solemn procession on April 22, 1541. The rest of his live was devoted to advancing the cause of the society. He drew up the constitution of the order from 1547-1550, founded the Roman College and started the German College in Rome to prepare preists for the effort of recovering German regions that had been lost to Protestantism. Ignatius was responsible for creating one of the most unique and significant religious orders in the history of the Church. The Jesuits proved a bold, innovative community, which stressed its devotion to the Holy See, brilliantly educated and spiritually developed priests, and showed concern for the missionary endeavors of the faith. Ignatius was also responsible for the Spiritual Exercises, a profound set of meditations and rules intended to foster spiritual development. Ignatius died in Rome on July 31, 1556 and is declared the patron of all spiritual exercises. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born saint of the United States of America. Born in New York in 1774, she experienced immense loss at a young age. Widowed and despairing, she encountered Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and converted to Catholicism in 1805. A pillar in the foundation of the American Catholic Church, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph – the first community for religious women in the United States. She changed the world through true abandonment to the will of God, and a passionate love for the Blessed Sacrament. Her feast day is January 4th. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Time Period: 1774-1821 Feast Day: January 4 Title/Attributes: Widow, Mother, Foundress Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, a pillar in the foundation of the American Catholic Church, led a life that was not far removed from yours or mine. She didn’t have any heavenly visions, she didn’t levitate when she prayed, nor did she preach to the far ends of the Earth. Instead, she focused on two important and accessible devotions that would change her life and change the world: true abandonment to the will of God, and a passionate love for the Blessed Sacrament. Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City on August 28, 1774, she was born into a wealthy Episcopalian family just two years before the Declaration of Independence. Her mother, Catherine Charlton Bayley, would pass away in 1777, when Elizabeth was only three years old, and her baby sister died the following year. This early experience of sorrow and suffering led her to grow deeply attached to her father. Raised a staunch Episcopalian, she learned from him the value of prayer at a young age, and the Scriptures became a mainstay for young Elizabeth, who quickly became a prolific reader and would turn to the Bible as a source of instruction, support, and comfort. By the age of 19, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton on January 25, 1794 and they moved into an upscale house on Wall Street. William, Elizabeth and their five children were involved at the Trinity Episcopal Church, and Elizabeth started volunteering in the social ministry, caring for the sick and dying around New York City, eventually becoming a charter member of The Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, founded in 1797. The Setons faced financial hardship and tormented by the crushing weight and worry of debt, William’s health began to decline. He had suffered from tuberculosis for most of their married life, and now the stresses of life had worsened his condition. In the midst of all the loss and suffering, she turned to her spiritual life as a source of inspiration, accepting the hardships as they came, and surrendering to the will of God. She wrote a letter in May of 1802 that her soul was “sensibly convinced of an entire surrender of itself and all its faculties to God.” Furthermore, amidst the troubles she faced, she wrote, “Troubles always create a great exertion of my mind, and give it a force to which at other times it is incapable… I think the greatest happiness of this life is to be released from the cares of what is called the world.” In 1803, a doctor suggested a trip to Italy in hopes the warmer climate would bolster William’s health. Elizabeth, along with Anna Maria, their eldest daughter, set sail for Italy to visit their friends, the Felicchi family. When the family arrived in the port their plans were derailed, as they were immediately placed in quarantine for a month as authorities were concerned about the transmission of yellow fever from New York. The three were placed in a stone tower located outside the city. The three were released from the tower on December 19th. William would pass away only eight days later, dying on December 27, 1803. Widowed and despairing, Elizabeth and her daughter were received by the Filicchi family, friends and business partners of her late husband. While waiting to return to America, Elizabeth began to attend the churches of her Italian friends, and she was captivated by the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Impressed by her kindness, patience, and newly-developed interest in Catholicism, her Italian friends guided her in Catholic instruction. While she struggled with indecision about converting, she was riveted by the true presence, and eventually the truth was too great to ignore. She returned to New York City, asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to guide her to the truth, and on March 14, 1805, she entered the Roman Catholic Church. Elizabeth met a visiting priest, who was in the process of establishing the first Catholic seminary in the United States, and saw Elizabeth’s need, as well as a spark. He suggested she start a school in order to support her family. Around 1808, Elizabeth left New York and traveled to Emmitsburg, Maryland in order to start a school, which would become the Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School, the first free Catholic school in America. She was joined in Maryland by her daughters, her sisters-in-law (Cecelia Seton, one of her sisters-in-law, had also became a Roman Catholic), and a handful of young women who also saw Elizabeth’s spark, and desired to follow her. The plans for a Sisterhood were fully underway. In March of 1809, Elizabeth Seton pronounced her vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience before Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore. From that moment on, she was known as Mother Seton, and given some property in Emmitsburg, for which she used to found the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first community for religious women in the United States. By 1811, the women had received the ecclesiastical authority needed to become an official religious order, and Mother Seton adopted the rules of the Daughters of Charity, which had been founded in France by St. Vincent de Paul. Buildings sprung up quickly in a flurry of activity, in order to accommodate the sisters, create a novitiate program, found a boarding school, an orphan asylum, and much more. The remainder of Mother Seton’s life was spent leading and developing the congregation. She suffered greatly from the pain of tuberculosis over the course of her last three years of life, but felt peace in the knowledge that God was getting ready to call her home. On January 4, 1821, she began the prayers of the dying herself, and passed away later that night. She was 46 years old. She became the first native-born saint of the United States of America. Next Item Previous Item

Find food assistance at St. Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry in Spring, TX. View pantry hours, service areas, current needs, and how to receive or volunteer. St. Anthony's Bread Food Pantry When we are open Pantry Hours Tuesday • 8 AM - 10 AM Thursday • 8 AM - 10 AM Saturday • 8 AM - 10 AM *The pantry will close earlier than stated when we run out of food. Each family must allow a minimum of 14 days between visits. Pantry Closures The St. Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry will be closed for distribution on: March 21 March 31 April 2 April 4 April 11 May 23 July 4 Current Needs Canned tuna, chicken, or salmon Ramen Jelly in plastic jar Chef Boyardee Flour, sugar, cooking oil Chips (lunch box size) Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo) Salt & Pepper How We Help St. Anthony’s Bread is the food pantry of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Serving thousands of families every month, we are proud to help support our community by providing nutritious meals to those in need. The street address to use for GPS location services such as Google Maps or Apple Maps is 7985 Bay Branch Dr, Spring, TX 77382 Our Food Pantry serves families with an address located in the following Montgomery County zip codes: 77301, 77302, 77303, 77304, 77305, 77306, 77316, 77318, 77328, 77333, 77339, 77353, 77354, 77355, 77356, 77357, 77362, 77365, 77372, 77373, 77375, 77377, 77378, 77379, 77380, 77381, 77382, 77384, 77385, 77386, 77387, 77388, 77389, 77393 ARE YOU NEW TO OUR PANTRY? At your first visit, our volunteers will ask you to provide a valid identification or a utility/service bill containing your name and address. If the address is one of the zip codes listed above, you will fill out a short registration form (available in both English and Spanish), which is then used to create your ID card to be presented each time you come to the pantry. We ask you to wait 14 days between visits. Become A Volunteer Are you looking for a place to offer your time and talent in our parish? Many Volunteers are needed for the daily operations of the St. Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry. Saturday volunteers need to register through Planning Center. For weekday volunteering (Monday to Friday), individuals can simply show up at 7 a.m., provided they are certified. Help is needed in the following tasks: Unload truck deliveries from different vendors. Sort food donations received, stock shelves. Pre-pack bags of food. Deliver bags/boxes of food to those in need by loading cars on food delivery days. Volunteer with us! Must be 6 years old and over. Ages 6-16 must be accompanied by a Safe Environment complaint parent. If you are 18+ and older, you must be Safe Environment certified. Safe Environment Training Link Questions about Safe Environment compliance? Contact safe@ap.church Once certified, volunteers are welcome to volunteer from Monday-Saturday from 7 AM - 10 AM. Questions about volunteering? Contact Adriana Flower Learn More Sign up to Volunteer If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. -- Saint Teresa of Calcutta Donate to Food Pantry Community Resources Contact Food Pantry BACK TO TOP

AV Equipment AV Equipment To ensure that your event runs smoothly we will assist you with verifying that your presentation, program and devices are compatible with our AV equipment. This requires that you schedule a meeting with our staff several days before your event. To schedule this meeting email avhelp@ap.church . The Paduan Center, PLB, and STC come equipped with a standard AV set up. When booking Sheltz Hall or the Gym you must specifically list your AV needs. In all spaces you must provide your own laptop. AV GUIDES REQUEST AV HELP Previous Item Next Item

St. Rose of Viterbo, born in 1234 in Viterbo, Italy, was a virgin and preacher who opposed the Ghibellines. At eight, she received a vision of the Virgin Mary and began preaching in support of the pope. Exiled to protect her from Ghibelline plots, she later predicted the death of Emperor Frederick II. Although she sought entry into the Poor Clare convent, she was refused due to lack of a dowry. Rose died at seventeen, and Pope Alexander IV ensured her burial in the convent. She was canonized in 1457. St. Rose of Viterbo Time Period: 1234-1252 Feast Day: September 4 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Rose of Viterbo was a virgin and preacher against the Ghibellines. She was Born in Viterbo, Italy in 1234 to poor parents. She received a vision of the Virgin Mary at the age of eight and displayed profound spiritual gifts. Within a short time, she took to preaching in the streets in support of the pope against the Ghibellines (the anti-papal party that supported the cause of the Holy Roman Emperors in Italy), calling upon the Guelphs (the pro-papal party) to expel the enemies of the Holy See from the city. When the Ghibellines conspired to murder her, the podesta (chief ruler) of Viterbo had her exiled to save her life. After going to Soriano in 1250, she accurately predicted the imminent and entirely unexpected death of the avowed enemy of the popes, Emperor Frederick II. She desired entry into the Poor Clare convent of St. Mary of the Roses at Viterbo but was refused admission owing to the lack of a dowry. After her death on March 6 at the age of seventeen, Pope Alexander IV, by way of giving thanks for her support, ordered that she be buried in the convent. Rose was canonized in 1457. Next Item Previous Item