When is St. Rose of Lima day?
This national holiday in Peru is always celebrated on August 30th.
It commemorates Saint Rose of Lima who died on August 24th 1617. Rose of Lima is the patron saint of Peru and the indigenous natives of Latin America.
History of St. Rose of Lima day
Saint Rose of Lima was born on April 20th 1586 in Lima, Peru. Her father was Spanish, her mother was of indian descent and Rose was one of 13 children. Her real name was Isabel, but she was such a beautiful baby with rosy cheeks, that she soon came to be called 'Rose'.
From an early age, she showed great devotion to god. Her parents had hoped that her good looks would enable her to marry well and help the family escape poverty but Rose decided to follow a religious life dedicating herself to god. Rose was too poor to join a monastery, so she lived in a small cottage making money to support her family and her charity work by selling needlework and flowers. She looked after the sick and needy people in Lima, bringing them to her cottage to feed and care for them.
Her efforts were soon noticed by the Dominican Order who allowed her to join without any payment.
While continuing her service to the people of Lima, Rose practiced some extreme forms of devotion; eating only bread and water and wearing a spiked crown around her waist under her clothes. Rose died at the age of 31. When she died, her funeral had to be be delayed by two days due to the amount of people who wanted to pay their respects.
Rose was beatified in 1667, making her the first person born in the Americas to become a saint.
Her feast day was added to the Roman Catholic calendar in 1729 as August 30th. The date of her death, August 24th was already snaffled by Saint Bartholomew the Apostle and 30 August was the closest available date. In 1969, revisions to the calendar meant August 23rd could be allocated as her feast day; however Peru and some other Latin American countries use the old date.
How is St Rose of Lima day celebrated?
On this day a religious procession takes place from the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, where the remains of the saint are kept, to Lima's Cathedral. Visiting the Church and Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima is also a popular activity on this day.
The image of Saint Rose of Lima is found on the Peruvian Nuevo Sol 200 banknote.
