St. Rose of Lima

Historians remember St. Rose of Lima for her piety and chastity. Born in 1586 in Lima, Peru to Spanish colonists, and named Isabel Flores de Olivia, she was exceptionally beautiful. Her beauty was so great that she was nicknamed "Rose," a name that remains with her to this day. According to legend, a servant had a vision where her face turned into a rose. At her confirmation in 1597, she officially took the name of Rose. From an early age, Rose wanted to become a nun. She often prayed and fasted in secret. She performed secret penances, some of which were painful and severe. She performed daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and took daily communion. Rose's deep spiritual life began at a very young age, and she showed an extraordinary commitment to prayer and penance that would characterize her entire life.

As a young woman, her beauty began to attract suitors. To deter these men, St. Rose marred her face, rubbing it with pepper to make it blister. She cropped her hair short. Her parents opposed her plan to take a vow of chastity. This resulted in a clash of wills, because her parents wanted her to marry. Her father eventually relented and gave her a room to herself. St. Rose kept herself cloistered in her room, spending long periods in prayer. It was said she slept only two hours per night so as to have more time for prayer. She quit eating meat altogether, an extreme dietary restriction for that time. Rose's determination to live a life of prayer and penance was so strong that she was willing to make extreme sacrifices, including damaging her own beauty, to avoid the distractions of worldly life and to focus entirely on her relationship with God.

When she turned 20, she was permitted to join the Third Order of St. Dominic. She continued a life of extreme prayer, fasting and penance. On one occasion she burned her hands as a self-imposed act of penance. She was known to wear a heavy silver crown, with spikes that could pierce her flesh. The spikes reminded her of the Crown of Thorns. At one point, one of the spikes become so lodged in her skull that the crown was removed with great difficulty. These extreme acts of penance were not motivated by self-hatred, but rather by her deep love for Christ and her desire to share in His sufferings. Rose saw her penances as a way to unite herself more closely with Christ and to offer her sufferings for the salvation of souls. Her life of extreme austerity was a powerful witness to the value of spiritual things over material comforts.

St. Rose died on August 25, 1617, at the age of 31. According to legend, she accurately predicted the date of her death. Her funeral was a major event attended by all the city's authorities. Pope Clement IX beatified her in 1667 and Pope Clement X recognized her as a saint, canonizing her in 1671. Her feast day is August 23 around the world, although some countries, like Peru, celebrate her on August 30. St. Rose is the patroness of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, those who suffer ridicule for their piety, and people who suffer family problems. Her canonization was particularly significant because she was the first person born in the Americas to be canonized, making her the patroness of the Americas and a powerful symbol of the universality of the Catholic Church.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Rose of Lima is celebrated on August 23rd, during the summer season when the Church reflects on the themes of growth and harvest. This feast is celebrated as a memorial in the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing Rose's importance as the patroness of the Americas and her powerful example of prayer and penance. The feast falls during a time when many people are enjoying the beauty of nature, making it an ideal time to remember Rose's connection to beauty and creation and her role as patroness of gardeners and florists. The feast provides an opportunity to honor Rose's memory and to reflect on the importance of prayer, penance, and faithfulness to God's call in our own lives.

Traditions and Customs

On the feast day of St. Rose of Lima, many people participate in special prayers and devotions to honor her memory and seek her intercession. Churches, particularly those in the Americas, hold special Masses and services. Many people gather to pray for the Americas and for the Church throughout the New World. The day is also marked by prayers for those who work with flowers and gardens, asking for St. Rose's intercession in helping them to see the beauty of God's creation in their work. Many people also take time to reflect on the importance of prayer in their lives and to pray for the grace to be more faithful to their vocation, whatever it may be. The feast is also a time to reflect on how we can incorporate Rose's virtues of prayer, penance, and faithfulness into our daily lives.

Prayer and Devotion

The feast day is an excellent time to pray for the gift of prayer and the ability to make time for God in our busy lives. Many people make special petitions for the Americas and for the Church throughout the New World, asking for St. Rose's intercession in helping the Church to flourish in these regions. The day is also a time to reflect on the importance of being faithful to our vocation and to pray for the grace to follow God's call, even when it means facing opposition or misunderstanding. St. Rose's feast day encourages us to remember that we are all called to be saints and that holiness is achieved through prayer, penance, and complete trust in God. It is also a time to pray for the grace to be more prayerful and to make sacrifices for our faith, following Rose's example of dedication to God.