August 23, Saturday Weekday

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.--Psalm 85:(see 10)

Mass readings: Ezekiel 43:1-7 / Matthew 23:1-12

Signs of Love

St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617) went to extremes to express her devotion to God, including practicing very severe mortifications. She fasted often, prayed long hours, beat herself with a little whip and made herself unattractive to suitors because she wanted to remain single for Christ. We now see many of these practices as excessive but Rose did them out of simple love for Christ.

She also expressed this love by serving the poor. She made an infirmary in her home and cared for all the sick of Lima -- Indian, black, mulatto, and Spanish, regardless of race. To pay expenses, she sold flowers in the street and did sewing by night. In 1671, this Dominican tertiary became the first person born in the Americas to be canonized and is now the patron of South America.

Prayer: St. Rose, help me love the poor and needy as you did.