St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima, born Isabel Flores de Oliva in 1586 in Lima, Peru, was the first person born in the Americas to be canonized as a saint. From a young age, she exhibited a deep devotion to God and a desire for a life of holiness. Her beauty earned her the nickname "Rose," which she embraced as her spiritual name. Despite her family"s wishes for her to marry, Rose chose a life of prayer, penance, and service to the poor, inspired by the example of St. Catherine of Siena. Rose joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, living as a laywoman dedicated to a life of austerity and charity. She spent much of her time in prayer, fasting, and caring for the sick and impoverished in her community. Her life was marked by extraordinary acts of self-denial, including wearing a crown of thorns and sleeping on a bed of broken glass and stones. She also built a small hermitage in her family"s garden, where she could retreat for prayer and contemplation. Rose"s health deteriorated due to her severe penances, and she died on August 24, 1617, at the age of 31. Her death was mourned by the people of Lima, who already revered her as a saint.