Rose of Lima

Born Isabel Flores de Oliva in Lima, Peru, she was the first Catholic saint from the New World. Inspired by Saint Catherine of Siena, from an early age she led a life of intense penance and contemplation, inflicting severe mortifications upon herself. At her confirmation, she took the name Rose due to the beauty of her face and her love for roses, a symbol of her devotion to Christ. Despite her parents' desire for her to marry, she vowed virginity and joined the Dominican Third Order as a layperson. She dedicated herself to the poor and sick of Lima, transforming part of her home into an infirmary. Her life was marked by mystical experiences, visions, and divine graces, but also by great trials and temptations. She died at the age of 31, leaving behind a legacy of piety and charity.