St. Rose of Lima--August 23

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints, Rose of Lima.

Rose was born in Lima, Peru in 1586.  She was named Isabelle but called Rose because of her beauty and rosy cheeks.  When she was 11 years old, she took the name Rose as a confirmation name.

She supported her family by her lace making and embroidery.

She dedicated herself to God early in her life and endured a decade of pressure from her parents to marry.

She was a third order Dominican and was the first American born saint.

She is the patroness of the Americas, needle workers, florists and gardeners.

My Saint for 2009

I am so happy!! My Saint of the Year for 2009 is Saint Rose of Lima, one of my favorite saints! For the rest of the year 2008, I will have her picture along with my saint for 2008, St. Julie Billiart, on my sidebar.

St. Rose was born in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586. She refused to marry, preferring instead to enter a convent. When her parents would not agree to that, she stayed with them, living a life of penance and solitude as a third order of St. Dominic. She worked in the garden and sewed to help her parents earn the money they needed to survive.

Near the end of her short life, she began to care for the homeless, elderly and sick in a room she set up in her house. This was the start of social services in Peru.

Marilena of A Traditional Catholic, is giving out saints for the year, for anyone who wants one.

St. Rose of Lima

Today is the Feast of Saint Rose of Lima. Rose was born to Spanish immigrants in Lima, Peru on April 20, 1586 and baptized Isabel. By the time she was confirmed, she was called Rose, which is the name under which she was confirmed.

She lived at home in virtual isolation as a Dominican Tertiary where she experienced visions and recieved invisible stigmata. She meditated in her garden and embroidered to raise money to support her family. She was the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be declared a saint.

Rose is the patroness of the Americas; Central America; embroiderers; florists; gardeners; India; Latin America; Lima, Peru; needle workers; the New World; people ridiculed for their piety; Peru; The Phillipines; the diocese of Santa Rosa, California; South America; vanity; Villareal Samar, Phillipines; and the West Indies.

Saint Rose of Lima, Pray for us!

St. Rose of Lima

Today is the feast of one of my favorite saints--Saint Rose of Lima. She was born Isabella de Flores Y Del Oliva to Spanish immigrant parents in Lima, Peru. She was so beautiful, she was called Rose and took the name as a confirmation name.

She lived as a Dominican at home, praying and meditating in her garden and making embroidered items to sell and help her family. She offered up her many sufferings to God. Her life of poverty, chastity and penance was lived in direct contrast to the greed present all around her.

She is the first person living in the Americas to be made a saint. May we all pray for the courage to imitate her holiness!