Saint Rose of Lima was a great 16th-century saint. She was the first saint to be born in the Americas, in Peru, and has about 100 churches named for her. St Rose of Lima was born on April 20, 1586, and she died on August 24, 1617. She was only 31 years old. Saint Rose of Lima was born to a noble family and is the patron saint of embroidery, gardening, and cultivation of blooming flowers. Saint Rose of Lima was designated as a co-patroness of the Philippines in September 1942 by Pope Pius XII, but Rose’s remains are in Peru. Her image was featured on the highest denomination banknote of Peru.
Biography of Saint Rose of Lima
Saint Rose of Lima was born as Isabel Flores de Oliva in the city of Lima, Peru (which was then part of the Spanish Empire) on April 20, 1586. She was one of eleven children of Gaspar Flores and María de Oliva y Herrera. Her later nickname “Rose” comes from an incident in her infancy: a servant claimed to have seen her face transform into a rose. She formally took the name Rose in 1597.
As a young girl, in emulation of Catherine of Siena, she fasted three times a week and performed severe penances in secret. Saint Rose of Lima was admired for her beauty. She cut off her hair and rubbed peppers on her face, upset that men were taking notice of her. As an addition to fasting, she took permanent abstinence from eating meat. So, she was unique at a young age.
Saint Rose of Lima attracted the attention of the friars of the Dominican Order. She wanted to become a nun, but her father forbade it, so she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic while living in her parents’ home. At 20, she donned a habit and took a vow of perpetual virginity. She only slept two hours a night at most, so 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.
For eleven years, she lived this way, with intervals of ecstasy, and eventually died on August 24, 1617, at the age of 31, after an extended illness. She predicted the date of her death. Her funeral was held in the cathedral in Lima. Her feast day is August 23.
Churches Named for Her
There are nearly 100 Catholic churches worldwide that are named in her honor. Many are in America because she was the first saint from this hemisphere. Here is a list.
Asia
Cherai, Kerala, India
Anayan, Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Bagong Ilog and Sumilang, Pasig, Philippines
Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines
Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Santa Rosa de Lima, Alcoy, Cebu, Philippines
Santa Rosa de Lima, Daanbantayan, Cebu, Philippines
St. Rose of Lima, Teresa, Rizal, Philippines
St. Rose of Lima, Bacacay, Albay, Philippines
Australia
Kapunda, South Australia, Australia
Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales, Australia
Rosedale, Victoria, Australia
Europe
Sittard, Netherlands
Sibbe, Netherlands
Weoley Castle, Birmingham, United Kingdom
North America
Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
Sainte Rose du Lac, Manitoba, Canada
Santa Rosa de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico
Iglesia Santa Rosa de Lima, Santa Rosa de Lima, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico
Safford, Arizona, United States
Chula Vista, California, United States
Crockett, California, United States
Maywood, California, United States
Paso Robles, California, United States
Roseville, California, United States
Santa Rosa, California, United States
Simi Valley, California, United States
Buena Vista, Colorado, United States
Meriden, Connecticut, United States
Newtown, Connecticut, United States
Milton, Florida, United States
Miami Shores, Florida, United States
Montrose, Illinois, United States
Quincy, Illinois, United States
Franklin, Indiana, United States
Denison, Iowa, United States
Great Bend, Kansas, United States
Mount Vernon, Kansas, United States
Cloverport, Kentucky, United States
Springfield, Kentucky, United States
Jay, Maine, United States
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States
Chicopee, Massachusetts, United States
Northborough, Massachusetts, United States
Topsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Hastings, Michigan, United States
Roseville, Minnesota, United States
De Soto, Missouri, United States
Dillon, Montana, United States
Reno, Nevada, United States
Littleton, New Hampshire, United States
Belmar, New Jersey, United States
East Hanover, New Jersey, United States
Haddon Heights, New Jersey, United States
Freehold, New Jersey, United States
Short Hills, New Jersey, United States
Buffalo, New York, United States
Forestville, New York, United States
Lima, New York, United States
Massapequa, New York, United States
New York, New York, United States
North Syracuse, New York, United States
Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, United States
Hillsboro, North Dakota, United States
Perry, Oklahoma, United States
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
St. Rose, Ohio, United States
Perrysburg, Ohio, United States
Lima, Ohio, United States
Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
Carbondale, Pennsylvania, United States
Eddystone, Pennsylvania, United States
Dillon, Montana, United States
North Wales, Pennsylvania, United States
York, Pennsylvania, United States
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
Andice, Texas, United States
Houston, Texas, United States
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Layton, Utah, United States
Cheney, Washington, United States
Cuba City, Wisconsin, United States
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Benavides, Texas, United States
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
South America
Basilica Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima Buenos Aires, Argentina [es]
Santa Rosa Church, Paramaribo, Suriname
Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
Lima, Peru
Central America and Caribbean
Rincón, Puerto Rico, United States
Venus Gardens, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Ranchuelo, Villa Clara, Cuba
Santa Rosa, Colón, Panama
Santa Rosa de Lima, La Unión, El Salvador
Santa Rosa Guachipilin, Santa Ana, El Salvador
Conclusion
Saint Rose of Lima was a great lady. She is the first Saint from the Americas, and as such, there are many churches named after her, especially in the United States. She undertook many heroic acts of self-denial worthy of emulation. The hope is that some of those acts will be inspirational to readers.
