Saint Rafqa Pietra Chobok (Maronite Nun, Spent 29 years suffering as a victim soul)

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Feast Day

• March 23

Profile

Rafqa Pietra Chobok (Arabic: June 29, 1832 - March 23, 1914), also known as Saint Rafka and Saint Rebecca, was a Lebanese Maronite nun who was canonized by Pope John Paul II on ,June 10, 2001. She is a patron of lost parents and the sick. After praying to share in Jesus' suffering, she began to experience a terrible headache that spread to her eyes. She suffered with this pain for 12 years. In 1899, she lost sight in her left eye. Her suffering intensified when her right hip, leg, and clavicle became dislocated. Her vertebrae were even visible through her skin. 

Born

• June 29, 1832, Himlaya, Lebanon

Died

• March 23, 1914 (age 81 years), Batroun, Lebanon

Place of burial

•  St Joseph Monastery - tomb of Ste Rafqa, Deir Mar Youssef, Lebanon

Canonized

• June 10, 2001, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II 

Venerated in:

• Maronite Church; Roman Catholic Church; Eastern Catholic Churches

Patronage

• Patron of lost parents and the sick

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