august 23. rose of lima, whose mortifications were legendary
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Patron saint of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, India, Latin America, people ridiculed for their piety, the resolution of family quarrels, indigenous peoples of the Americas, Peru, the Philippines, against vanity, Lima, the Peruvian Police Force Lived 1586 to 1617 Beatified 1667 Canonized 1671 God to Rose of Lima: "Affliction is always accompanied by Grace; Grace is proportionate to Suffering. The measure of My gifts is (sic) increased with the measure of trials." Rose of Lima to God: "Lord increase my sufferings and with them increase thy love in my heart." Known as "the first canonized saint of the New World," Saint Rose was of Spanish and Incan descent. Born Isabel Flores y de Oliva, she came to be known as Rose due to an incident in her babyhood: a servant or servants claimed that her tiny face turned into a rose (or, more poetically, "a rose purpled her countenance"). When the servant(s) touched her face, the rose disappeared. Even as a baby, Rose would contemplate Jesus by gazing adoringly at the Crucifix. Baby Rose was sickly but withstood pain in silence, noting that the crown of thorns must've hurt much more. As a young girl, Rose fasted, abstained from meat, and participated in secret mortifications. A recluse, she left her "tiny hermitage" only to minister to the sick and hungry. Though she devoted herself to Christ completely, she suffered great feelings of longing and loneliness because God seemed far away. LEGENDARY MORTIFICATIONS
LEGENDARY ECSTASIES AND MIRACLES
EXPERIMENT Dream up your most dreaded punishment. Inflict yourself. Consider the vilest substance known to humankind. Ingest it. |