THE CONCHO PADRE POST

Saint Rose of Lima lived from 1586 – 1617 in Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru. Her father was in the cavalry while her mother raised their large family. At a young age, Saint Rose began pursuing Christ through penance, purity, and prayer. As she approached womanhood, many suitors were attracted. In opposition, Saint Rose cut off her hair and begged her father to allow her to remain chaste. He granted Rose her will but insisted she remain un-cloistered. In obedience, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. Her mortifications increased to include fasting, coarse clothing, isolation, and prolonged prayer. These sufferings she offered up for the sake of lost souls, her country, and the conversion of sinners. Her efforts granted her a supernatural love through which she served the poor, funding these efforts through her artistic needlework and tatting. Saint Rose was canonized in 1671 by Clement X and is known as the first American saint.