St. Rose of Lima: Faith That Blossomed in the Backyard

Patroness of gardeners, florists, and against vanity

Feast Day August 23

St. Rose of Lima had a big love for Jesus, in a life that looked pretty small from the outside. Born in Peru in 1586, she was the first canonized saint from the Americas—but she didn’t set out to be famous. She just wanted to give everything to God. While everyone expected her to get married and settle down, Rose felt called to something different. She lived at home, helped her family, cared for the poor and sick in her community, and found little ways to offer her whole heart to Christ.

When her parents wouldn’t let her join a convent, Rose made a little prayer hut in her backyard and treated it like a mini monastery. She even joined the Dominican order as a lay member so she could follow in the footsteps of St. Catherine of Siena. Her life was full of prayer, sacrifice, and quiet acts of love. She reminds us that we don’t have to do “big” things to become saints—sometimes holiness looks like saying yes to God in the middle of dishes, deadlines, and distractions.

St. Rose is the patron saint of florists, gardeners, Latin America, and anyone who feels misunderstood for their faith. Her feast day is August 23rd, and her story is especially meaningful for women who feel pulled in a lot of directions but still want to live a life of deep faith. If you’re looking for a little reminder of her peaceful strength, we made this St. Rose of Lima necklace with her in mind.