Rose of Lima (1586–1617)

Biography

They were blessed by the Lord with this daughter who was going to give them so much glory, not only to them, but to the entire nation of Peru and even to the entire Church. They were good but they did not stand out from the others either for their wealth or for their sanctity of life. From her earliest age, Rosa experienced an increasingly overwhelming attraction towards holiness, virginity, devotion, the love of retirement, an extraordinary spirit of penitence. That is to say, she felt a resolution to follow, as the Gospel says, THE NARROW AND UNUSED PATH OF THE SACRIFICE OF HERSELF, TO FIND GOD. Her parents wanted an advantageous marriage given the beauty of their daughter, since she was truly dazzling. His parents made him attend parties and banquets so that he would attract the attention of the richest young people in the city. Rosa obeyed but knew how to take advantage of these parties. Under her diadem of roses she placed a spiked cap, in the shape of a crown of thorns. And under her colorful dresses she placed hair shirts and other instruments to macerate her body. In 1616, at the age of 24, he wore the black and white habit of the Third Order of Sto. Sunday. Since then he has progressed even more by leaps and bounds along the path of perfection. His confessor asserted that, "Never, neither day nor night, did he lose the presence of God in his heart and that his soul was never defiled by venial sin." The Lord granted her the grace to repeat in herself the atrocious pains of the Passion of Christ. In the midst of the pain he shouted: "Increase my pain, But, my God, give me patience." She died on August 24, 1617 at the age of 31, admired throughout Lima and loved throughout Peru. Pope Clement X canonized her in 1671. Saint Rose was the first American saint canonized.