LIFE OF SANTA ROSA DE LIMA Santa Rosa de Lima Biography
Virgin "Rosa de Santa Maria" Patroness of America, Peru and the Philippines Fiesta: 30 August
Born in Lima (Peru) 1586, while living at home, and devoted himself to a life of piety and virtue, and when clothed in the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic, did great progress in the path of penance and contemplation mystique. He died on 24 August 1617.
Rosa de Lima, the first canonized American saint, was born of English descent in the capital of Peru in 1586. His parents are humble Gaspar de Flores and Maria de Oliva.
Although the girl was named after Elizabeth, it was commonly called Rosa and that was the only name that won the Confirmation by the Archbishop of Lima, Santo Toribio. Rosa took to St. Catherine of Siena by type, in spite of opposition and ridicule from their parents and friends. On one occasion, his mother crowned him with a garland of flowers to show off to some visitors and Rose stuck a fork of the wreath on the head, with the intention to do penance for this vanity, so that later had considerable difficulty in removing it. As people often praised its beauty, Rosa used to rub the skin with pepper to disfigure and not be an occasion of temptation for anyone.
Santa Rosa de Lima A lady did a day some compliments about how smooth the skin on your hands and the fineness of his fingers and immediately the holy hand rubbed with mud as a result of which could not dress themselves in a month. These and other austerities even more surprising they prepared to fight against external dangers and his own senses. But Pink knew very well that all It would be useless if not banished from his heart all self-love, whose source is pride, because that passion is able to hide even in prayer and fasting. Thus, began to attack the self-esteem through humility, obedience and the abnegation of the will.
Although he was able to oppose their parents for a just cause, I never disobeyed or away from the most scrupulous obedience and patience on the difficulties and contradictions.
Rosa had to suffer greatly by those who did not understand.
Rosa's father failed in a mine, and the family was in difficult economic circumstances. Rosa worked the whole day in the garden, sewed a part of the night and thus help support the family. The saint was happy with his lot and never have tried to change it, if their parents had not wanted to induce her to marry. Rosa fought them for ten years and made a vow of virginity to confirm your decision to live devoted to God.
After those years, he joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, in imitation of St. Catherine of Siena. Since then, virtually became a recluse in a cabin he had built in the garden. She wore on her head a silver ribbon, whose interior was full of tips and serving as a crown of thorns. His love of God was so hot that when he spoke of it, change the tone of his voice and his face lit up as a reflection of the sentiments that his soul. This phenomenon manifested itself, especially when the saint was in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament or in communion united his heart to the Source of Love Extraordinary
testing and thanks. God gave special thanks to his servant, but also allowed for fifteen years suffer the persecution of his friends and acquaintances, while his soul was seen engulfed in the deepest spiritual desolation.
The devil troubled with violent temptations. The only advice I knew how to give those who consulted was that it ate and slept more. Later, a commission of priests and holy doctors examined and ruled that their experiences were indeed supernatural.
Rosa spent the last three years of his life in the house of Don Gonzalo de Massa, a government employee whose wife had a particular affection. During the long and painful illness that preceded his death, the girl's prayer was: "Lord, increase my sufferings, but to the same extent increase my your love."
God called to Himself on August 24, 1617, thirty-one years of age. The chapter, Senate and other city dignitaries took turns to carry her body to the grave.
Pope Clement X canonized in 1671.
Although not everyone can imitate some of his ascetic practices, it certainly challenges us all to provide us with more passion to the beloved, Jesus Christ. It is this passion of love that must move us to live our vocation to holiness embracing our whole heart, whether in the world, in the desert or the cloister.
