Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Rose of Lima, virgin and the second patroness of the Philippines.

Isabel Flores de Oliva was born in the city of Lima. Her nickname ‘rose’ comes from an incident in her infancy: a servant claimed to have seen her face transform into a rose.

As a young girl, she followed the footsteps of Saint Catherine of Siena. She performed severe penances in secret and observed penance thrice a week. When she was admired for her beauty, she cut off her hair and rubbed pepper on her face, upset that men were beginning to take notice of her.

She entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic de Guzman and she took the vow of perpetual virginity.

She died at the age of 31 and was canonized by Pope Clement X.

Source: catechesisbacolod