On Thursday November 13th, the Relics of Saint Rafka arrived to Our Lady of Lebanon church in Miami, coming from Tampa, Florida, US.
Following the Mass, the parishioners were invited to attend an Exhibition about the Life of Saint Rafka, displayed in both the English and Spanish language.
She was born in Himlaya on 29 June 1832 on the Feast of St. Peter. She was baptized as Boutrossieh (pronounced in Arabic as the feminine of Peter).
In 1885, at the age of 53, Sr Rafqa’s wish and repeated prayers had finally been answered the desire to participate in the sufferings of Christ. She began to suffer numerous and extreme violent pains for the remaining 29 years of her life.
Gradually she lost weight and paralysis spread to her whole body with complete dysfunction to all joints. Enduring immense suffering, she became totally blind shortly thereafter.
She died on March 23, 1914 at the age of 82. The feast day of St Rafqa is celebrated on 23 March.