St. Rose of Lima

Dominican Tertiary: 1586-1617

Her life

+ Isabel de Flores, called Rose by her mother and confirmed with that name, was born in Lima, Peru.

+ She dedicated her life solely to God at a young age by a vow of virginity and became a member of the Dominican Third Order when she was 20. She lived as a recluse in the home of her parents.

+ Rose was known for the extreme penances she practiced, modeling her life after Saint Catherine of Siena.

+ Rose worked to support her family by growing flowers and doing embroidery and needlework.

+ Honored for her charity, she worked with the sick and suffering, including the poor, indigenous peoples, and slaves. She has been honored as the first social worker in Peru.

+ Rose died in 1617 and was canonized in 1671, becoming the first person of the Americas to be honored as a saint.

+ Saint Rose of Lima is honored as the patron of Peru and all of South and Central America.

Spiritual bonus

Saint Rose was confirmed by Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, the bishop of Lima from 1580 to 1606. He is also the bishop who confirmed Saint Martin de Porres.

Quote

“If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights.”—From the writings of Saint Rose of Lima

Prayer

O God, you set Saint Rose of Lima on fire with your love,
so that, secluded from the world
in the austerity of a life of penance,
she might give herself to you alone;
grant, we pray, that through her intercession,
we may tread the paths of life on earth
and drink at the stream of your delights in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(from The Roman Missal)

~

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.