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“I didn’t have the courage to give him the bill.” | Claudia Di Giacomo, who was working the cash register in the Vatican cafeteria July 25 when Pope Francis unexpectedly showed up to eat with the city-state’s blue-collar workers. The pontiff selected his meal from an array of prepared foods and sat with workers from the Vatican pharmacy’s warehouse, chatting with the men about their jobs, his Italian heritage and, naturally, soccer. (Catholic News Service)
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Christopher Gamboa
Youth ministry leader, St. Anthony Parish, Kalihi
- Favorite food: sushi, fetuccine alfredo pasta and curry
- Movie: I don’t really know, but my favorite comedy is “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”
- Most memorable priest: Father Terry Watanabe
- Favorite holiday: Christmas because everyone’s happy and in a festive mood
- PC or Mac: Android
- Favorite plate lunch: Pasteles with gandule rice
- Favorite biblical characters: David and Samson
- Favorite book: Comic books
Saints under 40
Blooming with miracles
St. Rose of Viterbo’s family knew it had a miraculous child on its hands not long after she was born around 1235.
Rose sought out the church and prayer when she was just a toddler, and at age 3 she is said to have raised her deceased aunt after praying over her coffin. Her deep piety also manifested itself in her Viterbo community, where she showed great concern for the poor even at a very young age. She also secluded herself so she could concentrate on penance and contemplation.
One of Rose’s farthest-reaching actions occurred when she was still a child, after she joined the Third Order of St. Francis at the instruction of the Virgin Mary. Rose had an intense encounter with Jesus on the cross who said his suffering was caused by the sins of man. She was so moved by this that she went out into her town of Viterbo, denounced the evils of sin and encouraged repentance.
The town, which had been rebelling against the Vatican, was moved by this young girl and many residents changed their ways.
Rose was only 18 when she died, but her influence continued to be felt. She was found to be incorruptible and declared a saint two centuries after her death. (www.franciscan-sfo.org)
