Rose of Lima, Saint

Rose of Lima, Saint, 1586–1617, Peruvian Dominican tertiary and mystic, the first canonized saint of the New World, patron of South America and the Philippine Islands. Despite her family's attempt to have her marry, Rose took a vow of virginity and entered the religious life. She lived as a recluse and was remarkable for pious austerities and self-imposed penances. She died at 31 after a long illness and was canonized in 1671. Her shrine is at Lima. Feast: Aug. 23 (formerly Aug. 30).

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Rose of Lima, Saint

 orig. Isabel de Flores

(born April 20/30, 1586, Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru—died Aug. 24, 1617, Lima; canonized April 12, 1671; feast day August 23, formerly August 30) Patron saint of Peru and all of South America, the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized by the Roman Catholic church. Born to a wealthy family, she joined a Dominican order in 1606, overcoming her mother's objections. She went into seclusion in a hut in the family garden, where she lived with great austerity, fasting, wearing a crown of thorns, and sleeping on a bed of broken glass. She experienced many visions, particularly of the Devil. Only in her last three years did she leave her seclusion. Many miracles were reported after her death.