August 23
Saint Rose of Lima
Third Order of Saint Dominic, Laywoman
(1586 – 1617)
“When we serve the poor and the sick we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus.”
Saint Rose of Lima
Saint’s Life Story
Her New Name – Rose
Isabel Flores de Oliva was born on April 20, 1586, in Lima, Peru to Gaspar Flores and María de Oliva y Herrera. She was one of thirteen children to her parents who were of Sapnish descent, at a time when South America was in its first century of evangelization. At an early earl age, Rose was pious. At age five, she built a small chapel for herself in the family garden. Her later nickname “Rose” comes from an incident in her infancy when a servant claimed to have seen her face transform into a rose. In 1597, Isabel was confirmed by the Archbishop of Lima, Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. She formally took the name of Rose (Rosa in Spanish) at that time.
Her Youth
With Saint Catherine of Siena as her model, Rose fasted three times a week and performed severe penances in secret. After daily fasting, she took to permanently abstaining from eating meat. When she was admired for her beauty, Rose cut off her hair and rubbed pepper on her face. Against the objections of her friends and her family, she rejected all suitors. Despite the censure of her parents, she spent many hours contemplating the Blessed Sacrament, which she received daily. This was an extremely rare practice in that period. She was determined to take a vow of virginity, which was opposed by her parents who wished her to marry. Finally, out of frustration, her father gave her a room to herself in the family home.
Cared for Sick and Hungry People
Rose helped the sick and hungry around her community, bringing them to her room and taking care of them. To help her family, she sold her fine needlework and took flowers that she grew to market. She made and sold lace and embroidery to care for the poor. Rose prayed and did penance in a little grotto that she had built. Otherwise, she became a recluse, leaving her room only for her visits to church.
Third of St. Dominic
She attracted the attention of the friars of the Dominican Order. She wanted to become a nun, but her father forbade it, so she instead entered the Third Order of St. Dominic while living in her parents’ home. In her twentieth year she donned the habit of a tertiary and took a vow of perpetual virginity. She only allowed herself to sleep two hours a night at most, so that she had more hours to devote to prayer. She donned a heavy crown made of silver, with small spikes on the inside, in emulation of the Crown of Thorns worn by Christ. She moved into a small hut in her parents’ garden and served the poor and the sick in a makeshift infirmary. Our Lord frequently manifested Himself to her, filling her heart with peace and joy, leaving her in ecstasy for hours. In her last long, painful sickness, this heroic young woman prayed: “Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart.”
Her Death
For eleven years Rose lived this way, with intervals of ecstasy. Exhausted from her many penances and austerities, Rose died of a fever and paralysis at the young age 31, on August 24, 1617, in Lima, Peru. It is said that she prophesied the date of her death. Her funeral was held in the cathedral, attended by all the public authorities of Lima. Rose became the first person born in the North or South Americas to be canonized a saint.
Born: April 20, 1586 in Lima, Peru
Died: August 24, 1617 at Lima, Peru
Beatified: April 15, 1668 by Pope Clement IX
Canonized: April 12, 1671 by Pope Clement X
Feast Day: August 23
Source:
Reflection
St. Rose of Lima’s life was not only marked by personal austerity, but also by a deep love and compassion for the poor and the sick. She devoted much of her time to caring for those in need, often using the resources she might have used for herself to help others. She even turned her family’s home into a refuge for the destitute, providing care and comfort to those who were marginalized and suffering. This aspect of St. Rose’s life reminds us that true holiness is not just about personal piety but also about active love and service to others. In a world that often encourages comfort and ease, her willingness to embrace suffering for the sake of love is both startling and inspiring. Her care for the poor reflects the Gospel’s call to see Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters. In her, we see the seamless connection between love for God and love for neighbor—a love that is selfless, generous, and compassionate.
Are you attentive to the needs of those around you? Do you use your resources—whether time, talents, or material wealth—to serve those who are suffering? How can you today move beyond mere words to concrete actions of love and mercy?
Prayers
Saint Rose of Lima,
Patroness of the Americas and of those who suffer, You turned away from worldly honors and riches, choosing instead the riches of a simple life in Christ.
Guide us to seek what truly matters— a heart united with God in prayer and service.
Inspire in us a deep love for those who suffer, that we may serve them with the same compassion and care you showed to the poor and the sick.
May we see Christ in every person we meet and love them as you loved them.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Saint Links
A Dictionary Of Saintly Women, Volume 2 by Agnes B. C. Dunbar – St Rose
Aleteia – St. Rose of Lima reminds us that grace comes through suffering
All Saints & Martyrs – Saint Rose of Lima
AnaStpaul – Saint of the Day – 4 January – St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)
Angelus – Saint of the day: Rose of Lima
A Reason2BCatholic – Saints Alive! | St. Rose of Lima
Catholic Exchange – St. Rose of Lima: An Unrepeatable Saint by Cari Donaldson
Catholic Ireland – Aug 23 – St Rose of Lima
Catholic News Agency – Is this what Saint Rose of Lima looked like?
Catholic Online – St. Rose of Lima
Catholic Saints Guy – St. Rose was beautiful!
Franciscan Media – Saint Rose of Lima
Independent Catholic News – St Rose of Lima
Loyola Press – Saint Rose of Lima Feast day August 23
My Catholic Life – Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin
New Advent – Aymé, E. (1912). St. Rose of Lima. In The Catholic Encyclopedia
Saint for a Minute – Saint Rose of Lima
Saints for Sinners – Saint Rose of Lima
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617)
uCatholic – Saint Rose of Lima
Wikipedia – Rose of Lima