Saint Rafqa

Biography

Saint Rafqa, also known as Rebecca Ar-Rayes, was born on June 29, 1832, in Himlaya, Lebanon, as the daughter and only child of Mourad Saber Shabaq al-Rayes and Rafqa Gemayel. Unfortunately, her mother passed away when Rafqa was just six years old, and she did not have a harmonious relationship with her stepmother.

At a young age, Rafqa began working as a maid, starting from the age of 11 until she turned 15. It was during this period that she expressed her desire to devote herself to the religious life. However, her father initially opposed this decision. Nevertheless, at the age of 21, she entered the Marian Order of the Immaculate Conception in Bikfaya, taking the religious name Anissa, meaning Agnes. She made her final vows in 1856.

In 1871, the Maronite Order of the Immaculate Conception merged with the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The sisters had the option of joining the newly formed order, seeking admission to other orders, or being released from their vows. Guided by visions in which Saint Anthony the Great appeared to her, Rafqa joined the Lebanese Order of Saint Anthony of the Maronites (Baladiya Order) as a novice on July 12, 1871, at the age of 39. She adopted the name Rafqa.

On the feast of the Holy Rosary in 1885, Rafqa fervently prayed to share in Christ's sufferings. Shortly afterward, her health began to decline rapidly. She eventually became blind and crippled, yet she remained steadfast in her faith, dedicating as much of her remaining 30 years as possible to prayer. Despite her disabilities, Rafqa insisted on contributing to the convent's activities. She engaged in tasks like spinning wool and knitting.

By 1907, Rafqa was entirely blind and paralyzed. A 1981 medical report, based on evidence presented during the canonization process, indicated that her condition was likely caused by tuberculosis with ocular involvement and the development of bone growths. This illness caused her excruciating pain, but Rafqa remained grateful for her unique way of communing with Christ.

Later in life, Mother Superior Ursula Doumit, a close friend and supporter, urged Rafqa to dictate her autobiography, which she willingly did. As her health deteriorated further, Rafqa fervently requested that her sight be restored for a single hour, enabling her to behold the face of Mother Ursula once more. Miraculously, her prayer was granted.

Four days after her death on March 23, 1914, at the Convent of Saint Joseph in Grabta, Lebanon, reports of miraculous healings began to surface at Rafqa's grave. The first recorded miracle involved Mother Doumit, who suffered from a progressively tightening throat that threatened her ability to eat. Elizabeth en-Nakhel from Tourza, a town in northern Lebanon, also experienced a miraculous cure from uterine cancer in 1938 through the intervention of Saint Rafqa. This miracle paved the way for Rafqa's beatification, which took place on November 17, 1985, by Pope John Paul II. She was subsequently canonized on June 10, 2001.

Saint Rafqa is venerated as a patron against bodily ailments, sickness, and the loss of parents. She is represented by the lily, symbolizing her purity, and the purple rose, signifying her deep love for God. Her feast day is celebrated on March 23rd each year.