Saint Rose of Lima

Discover the details of this image of the first Latinamerican saint: “Saint Rose of Lima”.

By Colonial Museum

Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos (attributed)

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

Saint Rose of Lima

Saint Rose of Lima, named Isabel Flores de Oliva, was born on April 20th, 1586. After joining the Third Order of Saint Dominic, she retired to the garden of her house, since by that time there were no female tertiary monasteries in the Peruvian capital.

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

Saint Rose of Lima


During her life, Saint Rose dedicated herself to praying and helping the poor and sick. 

In this image, she is wearing the habit of the Dominican Tertiaries and a rosary. A crown of roses girds her head. 

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

Saint Rose of Lima

In her right hand she holds a crucifix and two roses, symbols of purity and of the sufferings of Christ in his passion and death.

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

Saint Rose of Lima

With her left hand she holds a palm, a symbol of her virtuous life and her victory as a holy woman dedicated to the faith.   

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

By the time of her death in 1617

Her reputation for holiness had passed beyond the walls of her garden. Her cult spread throughout the American domains of the Spanish Empire, and even reached Europe, where, around 1631, prints of her image engraved in Rome were already  circulating.

Saint Rose of Lima (Siglo XVII) by Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y CeballosColonial Museum

Saint Rose of Lima

On April 2nd, 1671, Pope Clement X canonized Isabel as the first American saint. She was entrusted with the process of emancipation of America and her image presided over events of the liberation campaigns such as the Congress of Tucumán (1816-1820).

Credits: Story



Créditos
MUSEOS COLONIAL Y SANTA CLARA
 
Museum Director
María Constanza Toquica Clavijo
 
Museology
María Alejandra Malagón Quintero
 
Curation
Anamaría Torres Rodríguez
María Isabel Téllez Colmenares
 
Collection Management
Paula Ximena Guzmán López
 
Editorial
Tanit Barragán Montilla
 
Communications
Jhonatan Chinchilla Pérez

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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