St Rose of Lima

     Today, is Saint Rose of Lima's feast day! She was born on April 20th, 1586 and died on August 24th, 1617. She was a member of the "Third Order of Saint Dominic", in Lima Peru. She became known for her severe penances and her devoted care of the poverty-stricken. She's attributed to roses after being nicknamed "Rose" after a servant claimed to see her infant face transform into a rose, where she later adopted it as her Confirmation name. She wore a crown of roses as a symbol of Christ's Crown of Thorns. She wore this crown during her acts of penance, associating the flower with her sufferings for the good of Souls. She is a model of Holiness, Piety and Love of suffering for the Christ she venerated with all the love in her heart. Rose took as her Holy model of life, "St Catherine of Siena", who experienced the same devoted love of God, whenever she was in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, completely exalted by His presence in her soul.

     Legend says that the scent of roses filled all of Peru after she died, from roses falling from the Heavens. She is the first person born in the Americas, to be canonized a Saint. She was exceptionally skilled at needlework and lace, which she sold to help support her family and the poor. She was a skilled Artisan because of her tireless work, sewing and creating beautiful works of art with the needle and thread. 

     Saint Rose of Lima, is a friend to us all who invoke her intercession. Especially, when resolving to do penances and mortification in reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Let us call upon this beloved friend, in our struggles to maintain Holiness and beseech her intercession for our world, who is in dire need of conversion back to God and His Holy Commandments. 

     St Rose of Lima, pray for us!