Rose of Lima

Who they were

Isabel Flores de Oliva was born at Lima in 1586, tenth of thirteen children of Spanish nobles settled in Peru; her Indian nurse called her 'Rose' for her beauty. When her father's business failed she worked hard as a servant, gardener and embroiderer, and made her mother's house a shelter for abandoned children and old people, especially Indians.

At twenty she took the habit of the Dominican Third Order, like her model St Catherine of Siena, and lived as a 'virgin in the world' in a tiny cell in the garden, praying and doing penance. Before an image of Mary and the Child she heard the words, 'Rose, give me all your love', and from then on Jesus was her only love: 'My God, increase my sufferings, as long as you increase my love for you.' She died in 1617.

The miracles

She was the first saint canonised from the New World and is patron of Peru, Latin America and the Philippines. Vatican News gives 1668 for her beatification; other sources give 10 May 1667.

Why that counted as sanctity

Rose gave Christ all her love, uniting her sufferings to His Passion for the salvation of others, and served the poorest of Lima with her own hands.

Connected on this site

• Catherine of Siena Saint
  “At twenty she took the habit of the Dominican Third Order, like her model St Catherine of Siena, and lived as a 'virgin in the world' in a tiny cell in the garden, praying and doing penance.” — this site's research
• Rose Philippine Duchesne Saint
  “Rose-Philippine Duchesne was born at Grenoble on 29 August 1769 and given the names of the apostle Philip and of Rose of Lima, first saint of the Americas.” — this site's research
• Turibius of Mongrovejo Saint
  “He confirmed almost half a million people; these included Rose of Lima and Martin de Porres.” — Wikipedia
• Pius XII Venerable
  “As a saint, Rose of Lima has been designated as a co-patroness of the Philippines, along with Pudentiana; both saints were moved to second-class patronage in September 1942 by Pope Pius XII, but Rose remains the primary patroness of Peru and of the local people of Latin America.” — Wikipedia
• Teresa of St. Rose of Lima Venerable
  “Rose of Lima, CSST was an Indian Catholic religious sister and the founder of the Institute of the Carmelite Sisters of Saint Teresa in Kerala, India.” — Wikipedia
• Georgina Febres-Cordero Servant of God
  “On 15 April 1903 she founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Rose of Lima, whose sisters ran schools, hospitals and homes for the vulnerable, especially children and the sick.” — this site's research