15/09/2025
SIX FACTS ABOUT ST. ROSE OF LIMA
St. Rose of Lima is a perfect example of a saint whose life was offered in the name of love. She joyously filled her life with ardent dedication, purity and holiness. As we celebrate her memorial today, let us know more about St. Rose through some facts:
1. She is the secondary patron saint of the Philippines.
— The Philippines was once considered as part of the Americas. Rose is the first Saint of Latin America and that includes the Philippines back then. If we look into our history, St. Rose of Lima was eventually declared as the secondary patroness of the Philippines by Pope Clement X on August 11,1670 through the Papal Bull "Sacrosancti apostolarus cura". The devotion of the Filipinos to Rose was brought by the dominicans. Several churches were dedicated in honor of Santa Rosa, and her most famous image is that of her processional image in the famous La Naval de Manila processions and still is processed in Intramuros.
2. She was inspired by the life of St. Catherine of Siena.
— Born in 1586 in Peru, Rose is known for her extreme piety and care of the needy. During her studies, she have read the story of St. Catherine of Siena. After reading of St. Catherine, she was determined to take the saint as her model in her spiritual life.
3. She kept her fasting, penance and prayers in secret.
— At her young age, she already wanted to be a nun but her parents want her to marry. They want Rose to focus on her studies, then find a man to marry. Rose chose to keep her life holy, she kept herself cloistered in her room. She prayed and offered penances. There was a time that she sleeps only for two hours to make more time for prayer.
4. To deter her suitors, she rubbed her face with pepper to make blisters.
— Because of her remarkable beauty, she gained a lot of suitors but she does not want to be in a romantic relationship so she intentionally blistered her face through rubbing chilli peppers to her face and cutting her hair short.
5. She entered the third order of St. Dominic.
— Rose entered the third order of St. Dominic as part of her path to holiness and service. She is also pronounced as one of the greatest dominican saints of the Catholic Church.
6. She sewed and embroidered for ten years.
— During her young age, her family also experienced financial crisis. Because of this, Rose was determined to work at the garden during the day, then sew every night for ten years. She reportedly made laces and embroideries that really helped her family overcome financial difficulties. This is also the reason why St. Rose is the patron of sewers and lace makers.
______________________