St. Rose of Lima

Their story

Isabel Flores de Oliva was born in Lima, Peru, in 1586. She was such a beautiful baby that she was nicknamed Rose, and the name stayed with her. From childhood she loved to pray, and she took St. Catherine of Siena as her model. Her family hoped she would marry well, but Rose wanted to give her life to God alone, and this caused long and painful conflicts at home. When her family fell on hard times, Rose helped support them by growing flowers and doing fine needlework. At twenty she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, living at home as a laywoman consecrated to God. She lived in a tiny hut in the family garden, where she spent long hours in prayer and practiced severe penances. She also turned part of the house into a place to care for the sick and the poor, including native people and enslaved Africans, whom many in Lima neglected. Rose endured years of spiritual suffering and misunderstanding, but she also experienced great joy in God's love. She was confirmed by St. Turibius of Mogrovejo and was a friend of St. Martin de Porres. She died on August 24, 1617, at the age of 31, and the whole city mourned her. In 1671 she was canonized, the first saint born in the Americas. She is a patron of Latin America and the Philippines.