Has Anyone Mocked You Lately? (Bede)

Series: Trinitytide

August 23, 2018
Fr. Vaughn Treco

180823 - Homily - Has Anyone Mocked You Lately? (Bede)

Episode Notes

180823 - Homily - Has Anyone Mocked You Lately? (Bede)

  • SHE IS REMEMBERED FOR her PIETY and CHASTITY!
  • Born in 1586 and named Isabel Flores de Olivia;
  • Several weeks later this weak and tiny infant was baptized in the Church of San Sebastián for by the priest, Don Antonio Polanco.
  • SHE WAS EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL...
  • Her beauty was so great that she was nicknamed "Rose"; 
  • And though for a time she struggled with scruples about her beauty...
    • At her confirmation in 1597, she officially took this nickname as her own.
  • AS A YOUNG WOMAN, her beauty began to attract suitors.
  • To deter these men, Rose marred her face, rubbing it with pepper to make it blister.
  • And, she cropped her hair short.
  • On another occasion, Rose put lime on her hands, inducing acute suffering. 
  • THIS WAS HER WAY — Her way to fight off the temptation to vanity. 
  • These self-imposed cruelties have not been uncommon, especially among the mystics.
  • FROM AN EARLY AGE...
  • Rose wanted to become a nun. 
  • She often prayed and fasted in secret. 
  • She performed secret penances, some of which were painful and severe. 
  • Daily she adored the Blessed Sacrament; and
  • She also received Holy Communion daily;
  • Neither of these practices were common in her time.
  • HER PARENTS OPPOSED her plan to take a vow of chastity. 
  • There was a clash of wills...

because her parents wanted her to marry.

  • But, her father eventually relented and gave her a room to herself in the family home;
  • Rose then joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic;
  • Donned the habit, and
  • Took a vow of perpetual virginity.
  • LIKE A FAITHFUL NUN...
  • Rose kept herself cloistered in her room;
  • She spent long periods in prayer. 
  • She slept only two hours each  night — and that on a bed topped with broken glass and potshards — 
  • She took little sleep so so that she would have more time for prayer.
  • ROSE TOOK HER CUE from Saint Catherine of Siena;
  • She experienced an ardent love of God whenever she was in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament;
  • And, this exaltation often completely filled her soul!
  • YET ROSE WAS A PRACTICAL young woman;
  • When her father’s fortunes suffered great losses, and the family's resources were at a very low ebb...
    • Rose helped out by selling fine needlework made by her own hands;
    • She also raised beautiful flowers and sold them at market. 
  • AND, SHE WAS NOT ONLY CONCERNED for her family’s well-being;
  • Rose’s awareness of the suffering of others often led her to protest against some of the practices of the Spanish overlords;
  • And she spoke out against them fearlessly!
  • FOR MANY YEARS...
  • Rose lived virtually as a recluse;
  • She used a little hut in the family garden as an oratory; AND
  • She used her private room to care for the sick and hungry who she brought into this sanctuary in order to better care for them;
  • IN MEMORY OF THE LORD’S CROWN OF THORNS...
  • Rose wore a circlet of silver studded on the inside with sharp points, cloaking its severity with a ring of flowers;
  • Three times daily, she afflicted herself with floggings;
  • ROSE WORE A HAIR SHIRT; 
  • She dragged of a heavy, wooden cross about the garden;
  • She rubbed her lips with gall and
  • Chewed bitter herbs to deaden her sense of taste. 
  • HER MANNER OF LIFE offended her family, who wished she would use more conventional and accepted ways of holiness!
  • WHEN ROSE BEGAN to tell of visions, revelations, visitations, and voices...
    • Her family deplored her penitential practices even more;
  • She endured their disapproval and, thereby, grew in spiritual fortitude.
  • FOR 16 OF HER 31 YEARS... 
  • Rose bore the opprobrium and persecution of those closest to her;
  • She also experienced the more severe trial of desolation of soul. 
  • UNTIL HER DEATH ON 

August 25, 1617...

few people knew how widely her goodly influence had extended, or

  • How deeply venerated she was by the common people of Lima. 
  • When her body was borne down the street to the cathedral, a great cry of mourning arose from the crowd. 
  • For several days it was impossible to perform the ritual of burial on account of the great press of sorrowing citizens around her bier. 
  • THROUGHOUT MOST OF HER LIFE...as she pursued that holiness without which none of us will see the Face of God...
  • Rose was derided, persecuted and mocked!

SO DEAREST FRIENDS:

On THIS FESTIVAL DAY of SAINT ROSE of LIMA — I ask you a question:

HAS ANYONE MOCKED YOU LATELY for the vigor of your pursuit of...

  • the truth, 
  • the beauty, 
  • the meekness, or 
  • the righteousness of Jesus Christ?

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