St. Rose of Lima, facial reconstruction

“ANOTHER and more attractive class of the animal creation … played a great part in St. Rose’s life — namely, birds. Their song had a peculiar fascination for her; and they are said often to have sent her into a rapture, so strongly did they fill her with the thought of God’s goodness. She would often call upon them, as well as the insects, to join her in singing His praises. Concerning this point, and apropos of her intercourse with nature generally, such a charming description is given in De Bussierre’s ‘Life’ of the holy maid in her mother’s garden, that we cannot do better than conclude this chapter by giving it word for word:

“‘When, at sunrise, she crossed the garden to get to her hermitage, she would call upon all Nature to glorify the Maker of all things with her. Then might the trees be seen bowing over her path, shaking off the dewdrops, and rustling their leaves so as to send forth harmonious sounds. Then would the flowers sway gracefully on their stalks, half opening their petals to give out their sweetest fragrance, and so in their own way celebrate the praises of God. And with this the birds began to sing their songs, and came to perch on Rose’s hands and shoulders, the insects greeted her with their joyful hum —all things, in short, with life or motion joined in concert with the early praises that she offered to her Lord. She had reconquered the sovereignty of man over creation that belonged to our first father before his fall.

“‘A girl-friend, taken by Rose one day across the garden with her at dawn . . . was witness of this extraordinary sight, and of what was to her still more astonishing, the quiet way in which her companion took it. The Saint saw her bewilderment, but simply said, ‘Do you think, Sister, that anyone can honour the Maker of the world enough? And ought not we to praise and serve Him indeed, when we see all green and flowering things give Him thanks after this fashion ?'”

   — From The Flower of the New World, Being a Short History of the Life of St. Rose of Lima by F.M. Capes (R & T Washbourne, 1899)

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