The Flower of Lebanon.
Rafqa was born on June 29, 1832, in Himlaya of the Matn District of the Emirate of Mount Lebanon, as the only child of Saber Mourad El Rayess and Rafqa Gemayel. Her parents were devout Catholics, and she was baptized with the name of Boutrossieh which is the Arabic feminine of Peter.
Her mother died when she was 7, which started a time of tribulation with her father. He experienced financial difficulties and sent her to work as a servant in a home in Damascus. She returned 4 years later to find out her father had remarried.
She was pushed by her family to marry men they had selected but she refused and it caused much discord. In response to her prayers for guidance, she traveled to the Convent of Our Lady of Deliverance in Bikfaya and upon entering, she gazed upon the icon of Our Lady and heard God tell her in her heart, “You will become a nun”. She joined the Mariamettes and her family tried to take her back home, but they were dismayed. From then on, they never saw her again.
She was sent to Deir El Qamar to teach catechism but returned a year later after the town became the site of civil unrest. She studied Arabic, writing, and arithmetic and convinced others to join the congregation.
She repeatedly heard messages from heaven providing directions for her and the Order of which she obeyed. She was known to be quiet and contemplative, devoted to prayer and spoke little. She commonly made sacrifices and lived in great austerity.
At the age of 53, she made an unusual request of Jesus, to share in His suffering. She immediately experienced pain in her head, which moved to her right eye. Her superior ordered for her to be examined by doctors in Beirut for treatment.
A doctor recommended immediate surgery. She refused anesthesia, and the doctor made a mistake which caused her to lose her right eye. Instead of panicking, she blessed the doctor and his hands. The surgery was unsuccessful, and the pain entered her left eye.
For 12 years she continued to endure pain and at no point did she reverse her request to share in Christ’s suffering. Instead, she remained joyful and patient.
In 1887, she was sent with 5 others to found a new monastery in Jrabta, Batroun, and worked diligently as she was able to. Another 12 years and she became blind with paralysis setting in.
She became paralyzed with exception to her hands. She was confined to bed, laying on her right side. Her body withered with a wound developing in her left shoulder which she referred to as “the wound in the shoulder of Jesus.” This continued for another 7 years.
On March 23, 1914, after receiving her last communion and calling upon Jesus and the Holy Family, she passed.
After she was buried in the monastery cemetery, many witnessed a light appearing on her grave for 3 consecutive nights.
“May the sick, the afflicted, the war refugees, and all the victims of hatred, find in Saint Rafqa, a companion on the road.” – Saint John Paul II
She is the patron saint of lost parents and the sick.
Her feast day is March 23.
For God’s Glory.
