Description
Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617) was a Dominican laywoman whose life joined prayer with practical care for others. Born Isabel Flores de Oliva in Lima, she became the first person born in the Americas to be canonized, in 1671. This icon depicts her with a crown of roses and a crucifix, two familiar attributes of her devotional portraiture.
A Dominican vocation lived at home
Rose entered the Dominican Third Order in 1606 but did not become a cloistered nun. Living at her family home, she devoted time to prayer, helped support the household through gardening and needlework, and cared for people who were sick or in need. Her example gives concrete meaning to the connection between contemplation and service.
The roses and crucifix in this image
A black veil and mantle frame her white habit. The roses above her forehead recall her name, while her lowered gaze and the crucifix held in both hands direct attention to Christ's Passion. The halo identifies her as a saint; the image's focus is prayerful attention rather than a scene from her biography.
Made in Poland on linden wood
Art Christiana makes this icon to order on a linden-wood board with two coats of primer. The image is printed directly onto the prepared surface and finished with decorative gold-tone metal leaf (schlagmetal). A certificate bearing the production year and a hanging fixture are attached to the back.
Suitable for a home prayer corner or a gift for a Dominican layperson, this image can accompany reflection on serving others without separating that service from a life of prayer.