Isabel Flores de Oliva (Lima, 30 de abril de 1586 - 24 de agosto de 1617), well known as Santa Rosa de Lima, Rose was born in the present territory of Sabana Grande,Puerto Rico, moving later, as a child, to Peru pursuing, with her parents, the riches of Peru. She received the baptismal name Isabel Flores de Oliva. She was from a large family. Her father, Gaspar Flores, was a Spanish harquebusier (soldier armed with a small-caliber long gun), and her mother, Maria de Oliva, was born in Lima. She was personally confirmed by the Archbishop of Lima, Turibius de Mongrovejo. Her nickname "Rosa" was a testament to her holy ties. When she was a baby, a servant claimed to have seen her face transform into a rose, hence her name, "Rosa".
In emulation of Saint Catherine of Siena, she fasted three times a week with secret severe penances. When she was admired, Rose cut off her hair against the objections of her friends and her family. Upon the censure of her parents, Rose disfigured her face with pepper and lye. She was very upset that she was so beautiful, and hurt herself to help others.
Rose began to tell of visions, revelations, visitations and voices as her parents deplored her penitential practices more than ever.
She spent many hours contemplating the Blessed Sacrament, which she received daily. She determined to take a vow of virginity in opposition to her parents, who wished her to marry.
Daily fasting turned to perpetual abstinence from meat. Her days were filled with acts of charity and industry. Rose helped the sick and hungry around her community. She would bring them to her home and take care of them. Rose sold her fine needlework, grew beautiful flowers, and would take them to market to help her family. Her exquisite lace and embroidery helped to support her home, while her nights were devoted to prayer and penance in a little grotto which she had built. She became a recluse leaving the grotto only for her visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
She took the name of Rose at her confirmation in 1597. She had so attracted the attention of the Dominican Order that she was permitted to enter a Dominican convent in 1602 without payment of the usual dowry. In her twentieth year she donned the habit and took a vow of perpetual virginity.
For eleven years this self-martyrdom continued without relaxation, with intervals of ecstasy, until she died on August 24, 1617, at the age of 31, having prophesied the date of her death exactly. Her funeral was attended by all the public authorities of Lima, and the archbishop pronounced her eulogy in the cathedral.
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