The Catholic Church will observe Tuesday, Aug. 23, the feast day of Santa Rosa de Lima, the first canonized saint of South America, and the revered patroness of Lima, Peru; South America; and the Philippines.
Commemorative masses in her honor will be offered in Paniqui, Tarlac; Bagong Ilog, Pasig; Santa Rosa, Laguna; and in Bacacay, Albay.
At the Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Teresa, Rizal, the praying of the holy rosary, holy masses, and novena were held from Aug. 14 to 22. Enthronement rites were held on Aug. 13. There is also an exhibit on paintings and dresses of Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa is considered as one of the most popular and widely venerated saints of the Roman Catholic Church. She is well venerated in the Philippines as well as in many parts of the world. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is a known devotee of Sta. Rosa de Lima.
Born Isabel Flores de Oliva in Lima, Peru on April 30, 1586, Sta. Rosa observed great reverence and pronounced love for all things related to God since her younger days. At the age of 20, she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic. She nurtured intense devotion to the Infant Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and the Holy Eucharist and religiously received Holy Communion every day up to the time of her death at the age of 31 on Aug. 24, 1617.
Pope Clement X canonized Santa Rosa on April 12, 1671. Her major shrine is the Basilica of Santo Domingo in Lima, Peru.