Rose of Lima, Saint (1586-1617), was the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized (declared a saint) by the Roman Catholic Church. She was canonized in 1671. Rose was born on April 20, 1586, in Lima, Peru. She modeled her life upon that of Saint Catherine of Siena. In 1606, Rose joined the Dominican religious community. She ran an infirmary for poor children and elderly people in the garden of her home. People from all of Lima’s social classes loved her. Rose practiced extreme mortification and penance and had remarkable mystical experiences and visions. Mortification means overcoming bodily desires by causing oneself pain or going without things. Rose died on Aug. 24, 1617. She is the Patroness of South America. August 23 is her feast day.
