Saint Rose of Lima

I was born in 1586 in Lima, Peru to a noble family. Because of my beauty and because of a dream in which a servant had seen my face turning into a rose, I was nicknamed Rose and I took this name at my confirmation in 1597. Since I was young, I wanted to become a nun and I prayed, fasted and received communion every day - a rarity in my time. Furthermore I performed secret penances. My parents opposed my wish to join a religious order. They wanted me to marry. But in the end my father relented and gave me a room to myself. I stayed always in my room, spending much time praying. Often I slept only two hours a day, to have more time to pray. I also helped the sick and hungry in my neighbourhood. At the age of 20, I was accepted into the Third Order of Saint Dominic. I continued a life dedicated to prayer and penance. I lived this way for the remaining years of my life, and died at the age of 31.