Saint Rose of Lima
Feast day: August 23
Saint Rose of Lima, the first saint of the Americas, who prayed and cared for the poor (23/08)
Who is she?
Saint Rose of Lima was a young woman from Peru who belonged to the Dominican Third Order, people who live the spirit of the Dominicans in the middle of everyday life. She was the first person in the Americas to be canonized by the Church, and she is the patron saint of Peru, Latin America and the Philippines.
Life story
Rose was born on 20 April 1586 in Lima, Peru, and her birth name was Isabel Flores de Oliva. According to tradition, when she was a baby her face was as lovely as a rose, so her family called her Rose. Later, at her Confirmation, she also took the name Rose.
From childhood, she loved God and wanted to belong entirely to him. Her family had money troubles, so she worked hard at sewing, embroidery and growing flowers to sell to help her parents. She loved Saint Catherine of Siena very much and wanted to live like her.
At about 20, she joined the Dominican Third Order but stayed at home. With her brother, she built a little room at the end of the garden for prayer. There she spent many hours talking with God and offering quiet sacrifices out of love for him.
Her love for God made her love people. She set aside a room in the house to take in poor children, elderly people and sick people whom no one cared for. She washed their wounds, fed them and comforted them with her own hands, as if she were serving Jesus himself.
She became seriously ill and died on 24 August 1617, only 31 years old. The whole city of Lima mourned her. In 1671, Pope Clement X canonized her.
Why is she a saint?
Saint Rose gave her whole heart to God. She prayed, worked hard and loved people who were left out. She did not keep God’s love inside her to herself; it became hands that cared for the poor and suffering.
A lesson for you
- Work hard to help your parents, just as Saint Rose sewed and grew flowers to help her family.
- Offer God small sacrifices: skip a treat you like, do your chores without complaining.
- When a friend is sick or sad, check on them and help them, because doing that is serving Jesus.
Identifying marks
- A wreath of roses on her veil: her name is Rose; she wears the wreath as a sign that she gave herself completely to God.
- The Child Jesus sitting on a bunch of roses: according to tradition, the Child Jesus showed her his love in a special way.
- A cross among the roses: she loved Jesus crucified and gladly made sacrifices for him.
- A white habit with a black veil and cloak: the clothes of the Dominican Third Order.
- An anchor (*): a sign of firm hope in God.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
The text on this page is the saint card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
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