Saint Rose of Lima

Life story

Isabel Flores de Oliva was born on 20 April 1586 in Lima, capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, into a middle-class family. She was known as Rose from childhood. According to tradition, she showed deep devotion early on and refused marriage. Her parents were of Spanish descent, and the family lived in modest circumstances in a city that was then one of the richest in the Americas.

She joined the Dominican Third Order and lived like a religious in her parents' house, building a small hut in the garden to pray in. Contemporary accounts say she ate very little and practised severe penances. She also helped her family by embroidering and growing flowers for sale, and brought poor children, elderly people and sick people into the house to care for them. She spent much of her time at the Dominican church in Lima, which she visited regularly.

She died on 24 August 1617, aged thirty-one. According to the accounts, a great number of people in Lima attended her funeral. Long before her canonisation, many in Lima already regarded her as a person of exceptional holiness.

She was canonised by Clement X in 1671 and was the first person born in the Americas to be canonised. The pope also named her patron of Latin America, the Philippines and the East Indies; her feast day is 23 August. Her relics are kept in Lima in the Dominican convent of Santo Domingo, where pilgrims still visit.

Works and witness

• Lived a life of prayer and penance in a small hut in the family garden.
• Earned money by embroidery and by growing flowers.
• Cared for poor and sick people in her family home.
• Was canonised in 1671.

Patron of

Peru, Latin America, Philippines

Saints from the same country

Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Francis Solano, Saint John Macias, Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Processes for the beatification of Rose of Lima (1617–1668)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.