An only child, Rafqa was born in Lebanon in 1832 to faithful Maronite Catholic parents. Her mother died when she was only six years old, and she was sent away to Damascus to work as a maid at the age of 11. Rafqa came home four years later to find her father remarried and pressured by relatives to enter an arranged marriage. Instead, she followed a calling that started while in Damascus, and she became a nun over her father’s objections. During her formation, she served as a catechist, teacher, and cook. At the age of 23, she prayed to be allowed to share in Jesus’ sufferings and she immediately was struck with severe pain in her eyes and began to lose her sight. She joyfully accepted the pain over the next 12 years as she prayed, became mostly paralyzed, and knitted clothing. She died in 1914 of natural causes.
CHALLENGE
St. Rafqa understood that the physical pains and torments of this life could serve as a means of uniting her to Christ, and she volunteered her body as a cross to carry so she could follow her Lord to paradise. From what physical pains are you suffering today? Offer them up as a cross that will unite you closer to Christ.
Want to learn more about the Order of Mercy, also known as the Mercedarians? Mercy, Ransom, Redemption is a compilation of short stories about Mercedarian saints, blesseds, brothers, priests, and third order members of the Order.
