On August 23, we mark the feast St Rose of Lima. Her father was a Spanish soldier from Puerto Rico, and her mother was of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent. Rose herself was mestiza, a child of both worlds, which made her canonisation in 1671 as the first saint of the Americas all the more significant.
Born as Isabel Flores de Oliva on April 20, 1586, in Lima, Peru, she stood out from childhood for her piety and as well as for her striking beauty. Her nickname Rose came from her babyhood, when a servant claimed to have seen her face turn into a rose. Later, at her confirmation, the bishop insisted on calling her by that name.
But Rose didn’t want to be admired for her looks. She yearned to belong entirely to God. From early on, she was drawn to a life of prayer, simplicity and penance. Inspired by St Catherine of Siena, Rose became a Dominican tertiary, dedicating herself to a life of solitude and service. One of her close friends and confidants in Lima was St Martin de Porres, the apostle to slaves.
She lived on minimal food, wore a crown of thorns beneath her veil, and took on physical suffering as a spiritual offering. Yet she was far from gloomy — her deep joy and love for God made her radiant.
Though she never joined a convent, Rose served the poor, the sick, and anyone in need. Her days were filled with sewing to support her family and helping the ill in a home-based clinic she and her brother established. She had mystical experiences and often felt a profound closeness to Christ, even sharing in his sufferings.
The miracle of honey
There were many miracles in Rose’s life. One of them is the miracle of the honey. At one point, the family’s supply of honey —widely used in Peru — had completely run out. Rose’s brothers reported that not a single drop remained. Trusting fully in God’s providence, Rose went to check for herself and discovered the container was miraculously full of rich, golden honey. It was more than enough to sustain the family, lasting them for eight whole months.
For a girl whose name symbolised sweetness and whose life was a blend of suffering and joy, the honey was a symbolic reminder of God’s providence and care.
St Rose died on August 24, 1617, at just 31 years old, worn out from her intense spiritual and physical discipline. But her legacy lived on. She remains a beloved saint across Latin America and beyond — a reminder that holiness can blossom in everyday life, and that even the smallest acts, done with love, can be touched by the miraculous.
For her feast this month, and to honour the miracle described above, I have made delicious honey bars which can serve as an energy-boosting snack.
Honey offers numerous health benefits. It is a natural cough suppressant, aids digestive health, is a healing agent for wounds, and helps in general skin care, and has multiple other uses.
This three-ingredient recipe is quick and easy, and you may well have all the ingredients at hand.
Ingredients
2 cups of quick or rolled oats • 1 cup peanut butter • ¼ cup honey
Preparation: 25 min • Servings: 9
Preparation
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a square baking dish with spray-and-cook and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, peanut butter and honey until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
3. Bake at 180°C for about 12-15 minutes, or until the oats start to toast around the edges and turn a light brown on top.
4. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container.
5. Enjoy with a prayer to St Rose of Lima!
Grazia Barletta is an author, book designer, and food photographer & stylist. She can be contacted at . Follow her blog at www.momentswithgrazia.com and connect with Grazia on Facebook/Instagram: momentswithgrazia
Published in the August 2025 issue of The Southern Cross Magazine
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