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Catholic Lima: Tombs of the city’s saints

Catholic Lima: Tombs of the city’s saints

Last updated on: November 2, 2016 at 12:08 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Catholic Lima: Tombs of the city’s saints 2016-11-02T12:08:47-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

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With this post, I continue the virtual tour of Catholic churches and sites of Lima, Peru. This city is rich in history and beauty. I hope these posts bring a greater awareness of the religious sites Lima has available to pilgrims and tourists.

Lima may be considered the city of saints. Three canonized saints lived at the same time in 16th century Lima: Saint Rose, Saint Martin of Porres and Saint Toribius of Mogrovejo. The least known of the three is Saint Toribius (Santo Toribio), the second Archbishop of Lima who dedicated his life to the evangelization of the people of the new world. A distinguished professor of canon law at the University of Salamanca, Spain, he was named Archbishop of Lima by Pope Gregory XIII when he was not even a priest! He arrived to Lima in 1581 soon after his ordination, and traveled extensively throughout the Viceroyalty of Peru teaching and preaching. He actively implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent, and catechisms he distributed in the most remote areas of Peru are still found today in these churches. Santo Toribio is now the declared patron of Latin American bishops. He is buried at the Cathedral of Lima along with the other archbishops of the city.

Interior of the Cathedral of Lima where Saint Toribius is buried

Other saints have graced Lima such as the Franciscan Saint Francisco Solano and the Dominican Saint Juan Macias, but both of them like Santo Toribio, were born in Spain. The most beloved saints of Lima are the two who were born soon after the founding of they city.

Chapel of the Tomb of Saint Rose

Saint Rose of Lima, born Isabel Flores de Oliva in 1586, was the daughter of a Spanish colonist who held a high office in the colonial government. Many wrongfully believe that Saint Rose was a religious sister. She dedicated her life to prayer and penance, as well as the service of others while remaining at home as a laywoman. There is a story I heard as a child that Saint Rose asked her brother to take her to the convent, but on the way there, they stopped to pray at a church. When Saint Rose attempted to rise from the kneeler where she had been praying, she was unable to do so until she promised to God that she would return home.

The tomb of Saint Rose

Canonized in 1671, she was the first recognized saint from the new world. She was declared patroness of the Americas and the Philippines (remember that the Philippines was also a Spanish colony). Her closeness to the Dominican Order and love for Saint Catherine of Siena, prompted her to request that after death, she wanted to be buried close to her friends at the Convent of the Dominicans located just a few blocks from her house. Today, her remains rest under the altar of a beautiful chapel of the convent.

Statue of Saint Martin in the chapel where he is buried

The second Peruvian-born saint was born in 1579. Unlike Saint Rose who came from an influential and well established family, Saint Martin was the illegitimate child of a Spaniard and a freed slave from Panama. Abandoned by his father, he grew up in poverty. He entered the same Dominican Convent where Saint Rose is buried at a young age, and became a lay brother. He was in charge of cleaning and eventually the infirmary. It is believed that Saint Martin would walk to the house of Saint Rose where she would sit at the door taking care of the poor and sick. They became good friends since they both longed to serve Christ by taking care of the neediest.

Saint Martin is usually depicted with a broom since cleaning was his primary duty at the convent. He is also shown with a dog, cat, and mouse at his feet eating from the same plate, symbolizing his ability to bring people together. He is also buried at the Dominican Convent, along the same cloister as Saint Rose. These two holy people who were friends during their lifetimes, now rest in peace near each other. A visit to the Dominican Convent downtown Lima is certainly worth a visit. Not only are these two saints buried here, but the convent is beautiful and well maintained.

Tomb of Saint Martin de Porres

Statues of Saint Rose and Saint Martin are never absent in parishes of Lima. Celebrations on their feast days fill the city, especially the many parishes dedicated to them. I will soon share pictures and stories about their birth places. The house of Saint Rose is now a sanctuary while the house of Saint Martin is a home where the needy are fed, clothed and are provided medical care.

Saint Rose, pray for us.

Saint Marin, pray for us.

Saint Toribius, pray for us.

saint martin de porres

saint rose of lima

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