MIRACLES ABOUND

Saint Oscar Romero

1917-1980

Feast Day: :March 24

Patronage: El Salvador, the Catholic Diocese of San Salvador, Caritas International

Saint Oscar Romero, beatified in 2015 and declared a martyr by Pope Francis, was assassinated while saying Mass. He spoke out against human rights violations, El Salvador’s civil war victims and in solidarity with the poor. As Bishop, he was friendly to Opus Dei and a good shepherd to his people in San Salvador. The United Nations honors him on March 25th, the International Day for the Rights to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

Saint Rafqa Pietra

1832-1914

Feast Day: March 23

Patronage: against bodily ills, against sickness, loss of parents, sick people

Saint Rafqa, also known as St. Rebecca, had a relatively happy childhood in Lebanon until her mother died when she was 7 years old. She decided to devote herself to God after Jesus told her “You will be a nun” and eventually entered the Lebanese Maronite Order. After years of living austerely and contemplatively, she asked Jesus to share in His sufferings. Immediately she suffered headaches and eye pain. The last 17 years of her life she was completely blind and paralyzed yet never complained and was joyful. When she died, a light appeared on her grave for 3 nights and the smell of violets emanated from it. She is called “The Flower of Lebanon.” Pope St. John Paul II canonized her in 2001.