Roseline
or
Rossolina de Villeneuve
(1263 ? January 17, 1329) was a
French
Carthusian
nun
. She is regarded as a saint in the
Roman Catholic Church
.
Life
[
edit
]
Roseline was born to an aristocratic family, at the
chateau
of
Les Arcs-sur-Argens
,
Var
, in eastern
Provence
, near
Draguignan
. As a child, she discreetly distributed food from the chateau larder to the local poor people. A similar
Miracle of the roses
is told of her, as is attributed to several other saints.
Having overcome her father's opposition, Roseline became a
Carthusian
nun
at Bertaud in the
alps
of
Dauphine
. Her
consecration
took place in 1288, and in about 1330 she succeeded her aunt, Jeanne (Diane) de Villeneuve, as
prioress
of La Celle-Robaud in the
Diocese of Frejus
near her home. In 1320 her brother
Helion de Villeneuve
, Grand Master (1319?46) of the
Knights of St. John
, restored the monastery, and in 1323 and 1328
Pope John XXII
, formerly Bishop of Frejus, increased its revenue, granting
indulgences
for the anniversary of the dedication of the church.
[1]
Many visions together with extraordinary austerities and great power over demons are ascribed to her.
[1]
Roseline obtained leave to resign her office before her death in 1329 at the age of sixty-six.
Veneration
[
edit
]
Her feast was given in the
Acta Sanctorum
on 11 June, the day of the first
translation of her relics
in 1334 by her brother, Elzear de Villeneuve,
Bishop of Digne
. It is now observed on her day of death, 17 January. A plenary indulgence has been granted to all those who visit a Carthusian church on that day.
[2]
There has always been a local cultus and this was confirmed for the Diocese of Frejus by a Decree of 1851, for the Carthusian Order in 1857. Roseline is usually represented with a
reliquary
containing two eyes, recalling the fact that her eyes were removed and preserved apart. This relic was still extant at Arcs in 1882. There is no ancient life of the saint, but that given in the
Acta Sanctorum
, 2 June, 489 sq., was constructed by
Papebroch
from ancient documents.
Her shrine, situated at Les Arcs-sur-Argens near Draguignan, has been for six centuries a place of
pilgrimage
. The Roseline Chapel near the Chateau Sainte Roseline is located in a private vineyard. It contains the body of Roseline in a glass reliquiary. According to legend, one day Rosaline was so caught up in contemplation that she failed to make dinner for the nuns. Angels came down, prepared the dinner and set the table. This story is depicted at the chapel in a wall mosaic by
Chagall
.
[3]
Roseline de Villeneuve is a
patron saint
of the
Diocese of Frejus-Toulon
and of sailors.
[2]
Notes
[
edit
]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
public domain
:
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "
St. Roseline
".
Catholic Encyclopedia
. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External links
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