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Saint Rose of Lima

Rose de Flores was born on April 30th, 1586 (the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena) in Lima, Peru to Caspar de Flores and Maria del Olivia. She was baptized as Isabel de Santa Maria de Flores on May 25th, 1586.

Isabel was named after her grandmother. Her grandmother was honored that her daughter, Maria named this beautiful child after her. Maria told her mother that she once had a vision in which she saw a beautiful pink rose over Isabel's cradle. "That rose was a sign from heaven telling me to change the child's name to Rose," said Maria. "I'm absolutely convinced of it." Isabel's grandmother replied, "A sign from heaven indeed! It was nothing but your own imagination!" Isabel's mother and grandmother argued over Isabel's name a lot. Maria began to get tired of arguing with Isabel's grandmother and told Isabel that her name from now on was Rose and that she was not to answer to anything else.

When Rose was five years old Maria decided to try to teach her to read and write. Maria became impatient with her daughter and decided to stop teaching her because she wouldn't learn. Rose wanted to learn to read and write so much that she prayed to Jesus and asked Him to teach her. One day while Maria was busy in the kitchen Rose came up to her and said, "Mommy I can read" .Maria didn't believe her and told Rose that it wasn't nice to tell stories. Rose said," But I'm not telling stories. Jesus taught me to read!" Maria told her to go get a book and show her. Rose ran and got the biggest book off of the shelf and brought it back to her mother. She opened the book and began to read the life of Saint Catherine of Siena. Maria was amazed and asked her who taught her. Rose said that Jesus did but Maria did not believe her.

As Rose grew older she learned to love Jesus more and more. She offered up all her sufferings for those who did not love Him.

When Rose was old enough she became a Dominican Tertiary. She lived with her parents, sold flowers from her garden and took care of the sick. Her father gave her one of the rooms in their house for a sick room. There Rose took care of all of her patients. Rose took care of the most gross diseases and became ill herself. She accepted the offer of Don Gonzalo de Massa and his wife to take care of her the last three years of her life.

Rose died August 24th 1617 when she was 31 years old. Rose was canonized by Pope Clement X for the many good works, sufferings and praying that she did during her life.

Saint Rose of Lima was the first canonized Saint of the New World. Saint Rose of Lima's feast day is August 23rd.

Maria Goretti

Today's Saint!

Maria Goretti was born October 16th, 1890, in Corinaldo, Italy. In 1896 her family moved to Colle Gianturco where they shared a house with Alexander Serenelli and his father Giovanni. Later they moved to Ferriere de Conca. Not to long after they settled down Maria's father, Luigi Goretti, was stricken with malaria and died.

In the summer of 1902 Maria was sitting at the top of the stairs mending a shirt and watching her sleeping baby sister. Alexander Serenelli walked up the stairs and into the house. Maria heard him fumbling around with tools inside. Alexander called Maria into the house. Maria hesitated. Alexander grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the house. Maria new what he wanted. Alexander told her, "let me have you or else". Maria told him, "No! It is a sin! You will go to hell! Alexander became so enraged that he stabbed her 14 times with a knife. Twenty four hours later Maria died.

Maria was declared blessed by Pope Pious XII on April 27th 1947. Three years later she was declared a saint for her purity. Saint Maria Goretti's feast day is July 6th.

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