Description
Rose of Lima (1586-1617), the first canonized saint of the Americas, played an important role in the development of national identity in Peru and other regions of the world. She continues to be an icon of both religious and popular culture. In this presentation, we will discuss her life story, her use of her body as an instrument and proof of her sainthood, the political forces that encouraged her canonization, and the continued use of her story by different sectors of society. Her life is an example of the role of saints in the development of identity despite cultural contradictions through the centuries.