Rose of Lima was born to Spanish immigrants in the New World, in 1586. She was a beautiful girl and a devoted daughter; she was so devoted to her vow of chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. Rose lived and meditated in a garden, raising vegetables and making embroidered items to sell to support her family and help the other poor. She became a Dominican tertiary in 1606. She was a mystic and a visionary, and received the invisible stigmata. She suffered from assorted physical and mental ailments. She was the first saint born in the Americas, and founder of social work in Peru. Rose had great devotion to St. Catherine of Siena. She died August 24, 1617 of natural causes.
The gospel passage today
speaks of the treasure and the pearl – symbols of the great value of membership in the Kingdom
of heaven – even in its current manifestation as the Church of Christ on earth.
Membership in it deserves all our attention, our devotion, our love and our
sacrifices! And God too will visit us with his graces and blessings – to
encourage us along the way to his heavenly estate – where we, with the angels
and saints, will live forever!
Young
men and women, praise the name of the Lord.
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