The story of their life
A Peruvian lay Dominican who combined hidden prayer, work and care for poor and sick neighbours. She lived in colonial Lima under strong expectations concerning beauty, marriage and family duty.
Saint16th–17th century · Feast August 23
St Rose of Lima
Also known as Isabel Flores de Oliva, Rosa de Lima, Santa Rosa de Lima
Virgin
Lay Dominican
First canonised saint of the Americas
A Peruvian lay Dominican who combined hidden prayer, work and care for poor and sick neighbours.
A note on content. This profile is a prototype draft. Devotional traditions, historical facts and uncertain traditions will be clearly identified once entries are reviewed. We do not publish invented quotations.
Historical context
She lived in colonial Lima under strong expectations concerning beauty, marriage and family duty.
Defining moments
- Supporting her family through work
- Resisting marriage pressure
- Joining Dominican life
- Caring for sick neighbours
Faith and spirituality
Hidden prayer, service from home and freedom from being defined by appearance.
Why this saint matters today
Strong match for body-image pressure, unwanted marriage expectations, hidden service and Latin American users.
Patronage and intercession
People turn to St Rose of Lima in matters of:
Peru
Latin America
Florists
Gardeners
A prayer
God of grace, through the intercession of St Rose of Lima, guide us in faith, courage and love. Amen.
Timeline
Sources and further reading
- https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html
- https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/
Source-quality status: unverified prototype