Saint Rose of Lima
Saint Rose of Lima (April 20, 1586 – August 24, 1617), born Isabel Flores de Oliva, was a Peruvian saint and the first person born in the Americas to be canonized by the Catholic Church. A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, she dedicated her life to prayer, penance, and service to the poor in her native Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru. Known for her extreme asceticism and mystical experiences, Rose became a symbol of piety and charity, earning widespread devotion during her lifetime and beyond. Her commitment to helping the marginalized, including indigenous peoples and the sick, solidified her legacy as a patroness of Lima, Peru, and Latin America.
Rose lived in her family home, transforming part of it into a makeshift infirmary to care for the destitute, while practicing severe self-mortification, including wearing a crown of thorns. Her devotion attracted the attention of the Diocese of Lima and Dominican religious, who supported her charitable works. Canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X, she is celebrated for her miracles, including healings attributed to her intercession. Her feast day, observed on August 23 in the Roman Rite, draws pilgrims to her shrine in the Basilica of Santo Domingo in Lima, where her relics are venerated.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Rose of Lima
| Saint Rose of Lima | |
| Feast Day | August 23 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Embroiderers, florists, gardeners, Lima, Peru, Latin America, Philippines, India |
| Birthplace | Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru |
| Death Place | Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Santo Domingo, Lima, Peru |
Biography
Birth
Rose of Lima was born on April 20, 1586, in Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru, to Gaspar Flores, a Spanish soldier, and María de Oliva, a creole woman. Originally named Isabel, she was nicknamed "Rose" due to her beauty, a name she later adopted formally. Her birthplace, a modest home in Lima’s Santa Ana Parish, was in a burgeoning colonial city under the Archbishop of Lima. The Viceroyalty of Peru, a key Spanish territory, shaped her early environment, blending Spanish and indigenous cultures.[1]
Her baptism occurred in the Parish of San Sebastián, where her family worshipped. From an early age, Rose displayed signs of piety, reportedly fasting and praying as a child. Her birth into a devout Catholic family, under the spiritual guidance of the Diocese of Lima, set the foundation for her lifelong commitment to faith.
Early Life
Growing up in Lima, Rose faced financial hardship as her family’s fortunes declined, prompting her to contribute through sewing and gardening. She rejected suitors, choosing a life of virginity inspired by Saint Catherine of Siena. At age five, she built a small hermitage in her family’s garden, where she prayed and practiced penances, foreshadowing her ascetic lifestyle.[2]
Her devotion deepened through education in the Parish school and private tutoring, focusing on scripture and hagiography. By her teens, she was known in Lima for her charity, sharing food with the poor. Her mystical experiences, including visions, began in adolescence, drawing scrutiny and support from local Dominican priests.
Occupation
Rose had no formal profession, dedicating herself to domestic work and charity. She supported her family by embroidering and selling flowers, skills that later inspired her patronage of embroiderers and florists. Her "occupation" was largely spiritual, transforming her home into a refuge for the sick and poor, whom she nursed personally.
Her charitable acts extended to Lima’s indigenous and enslaved populations, often in defiance of colonial norms. Guided by the Diocese of Lima, she collaborated with local clergy to distribute aid, earning her a reputation as a lay apostle. Her work reflected the Roman Rite’s emphasis on corporal works of mercy.
Vocation
Rose joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic in her early twenties, taking vows of chastity and obedience while remaining a laywoman. She modeled her life on Saint Dominic, embracing poverty and penance. Her small cell in her family’s garden became a site of prayer and mortification, where she wore a spiked crown to emulate Christ’s suffering.[3]
Her vocation attracted the Archbishop of Lima, who approved her Dominican affiliation. Rose’s mystical experiences, including reported bilocation and stigmata, were investigated by the Diocese of Lima, confirming her sanctity. She mentored young women in Lima, fostering vocations to religious life.
Death
Rose of Lima met her end on August 24, 1617, dying of natural causes, likely tuberculosis, at age 31 in Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru. Weakened by years of fasting and penance, she passed peacefully in her family home, surrounded by loved ones and Dominican priests. Her death was mourned across Lima, with crowds gathering to honor her.
Her funeral, held in the Parish of San Sebastián, drew the Archbishop of Lima and colonial officials, reflecting her impact. Miracles, including healings, were reported at her tomb, sparking devotion that spread beyond Peru. Her relics were enshrined in the Basilica of Santo Domingo, a major pilgrimage site.[4]
Significant events
- Joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic in 1606.
- Transformed her home into an infirmary for the poor in 1610.
- Canonized as the first saint of the Americas in 1671.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru
Death location: Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru
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Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Rose as a Servant of God began in 1617, shortly after her death, with the initial investigation conducted in the Diocese of Lima. Her life, writings, and reported miracles were examined, with testimonies from Lima’s clergy and laity affirming her holiness.[5]
Venerable
Declared Venerable by Pope Clement IX on May 10, 1667, for her life of heroic virtue. The Diocese of Lima’s findings, supported by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, highlighted her charity and penance.
Beatification
Beatified on April 15, 1668, by Pope Clement IX after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of a leper in Lima through her intercession. The ceremony occurred in Rome, allowing veneration in Peru and Dominican communities.
Canonization
Canonized on April 12, 1671, by Pope Clement X following a second miracle, the restoration of sight to a blind child in Peru. The Roman Rite ceremony in Rome marked her as the first American saint, with global veneration authorized.[6]
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
In 1667, a leper in Lima was reportedly healed after praying at Rose’s tomb. The man, afflicted with advanced leprosy, experienced a complete recovery, verified by physicians and the Diocese of Lima. This miracle, attributed to Rose’s intercession, was pivotal for her beatification.
The case underwent rigorous scrutiny by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with witnesses testifying to the cure’s immediacy. The miracle reinforced Rose’s reputation as a healer, particularly among Lima’s poor.[7]
Miracle for canonization
In 1670, a blind child in Peru regained sight after prayers to Rose. The child, born blind, saw after her family’s novena, a cure deemed instantaneous by medical experts. The Diocese of Lima documented the case, which was approved by Pope Clement X.
This miracle solidified Rose’s universal appeal, with the Roman Rite recognizing her intercessory power. The child’s family became devotees, spreading her cult in Peru.[8]
Other notable miracles
- Protection of Lima from a 1615 earthquake, attributed to her prayers.
- Healing of a dying woman in the Philippines after devotion to Rose.
Patronage
Rose of Lima is the patron saint of embroiderers, florists, gardeners, Lima, Peru, Latin America, the Philippines, and India.
Feast day
Her feast day is celebrated on August 23 in the Roman Rite, honoring her life and miracles.
Veneration
Rose is venerated through novenas, pilgrimages to her shrine in the Basilica of Santo Domingo, Lima, and devotion to her relics, including her skull and bones. She is depicted in art with roses, a crown of thorns, and Dominican habit, notably in paintings by Claudio Coello. Her life inspired films and books, influencing Peru’s religious festivals, like the Lima procession on August 23.[9]
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- No known writings attributed to Rose of Lima.
External links
References
- ↑ "Saint Rose of Lima". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rose-of-lima/.
- ↑ Mary Fabyan Windeatt (1993). Saint Rose of Lima: Patroness of the Americas. TAN Books.
- ↑ "St. Rose of Lima". Catholic.org. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=153.
- ↑ "Saint Rose of Lima". MyCatholic.Life. https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-23-saint-rose-of-lima-virgin/.
- ↑ "Saint Rose of Lima". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rose-of-lima/.
- ↑ Mary Fabyan Windeatt (1993). Saint Rose of Lima: Patroness of the Americas. TAN Books.
- ↑ "St. Rose of Lima". Catholic.org. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=153.
- ↑ "Saint Rose of Lima". MyCatholic.Life. https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-23-saint-rose-of-lima-virgin/.
- ↑ "Saint Rose of Lima". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-rose-of-lima/.