I first heard about Saint Martin de Porres in 2004 from a friend of mine. Her family is related to the person who recived the mircale for Martin's canonization. I love to hear her and particularly her father share the story.
Martin was born on December 9, 1579 to a Spanish nobleman, Juan, and a young freed black slave, Anna Velasquez. His parents were not married and Martin lived with his mother in poverty. He spend part of his childhood with a surgeon-barber. From this gentleman, he also learned medicine and to care for the sick. At 11 years old he became a servant in the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima, Peru. He was able to collect over $2,000 a week by begging from the rich to support the poor and sick in Lima. His superiors dropped the stipulation that "no black person may receive the holy habit or profession of our Order" and they allowed Martin to take vows as a Dominican brother in 1603. He established an orphanage and children's hospital for poor children in the slums. Then he set up a shelter for stray dogs and cats and nursed them back to health. He fasted very often and spent much time in prayer and meditation and had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist. He was a friend of Saint John de Massias. He died on November 3, 1639 in Lima of a fever. He was canonized on May 6, 1962.
He is the patron saint of many things including: hairdressers, hotel-keepers, public education, and racial harmony.
Saint Martin, faithful servant of Christ, pray for us!
Saint Martin, lover of the Blessed Eucharist, pray for us!
Saint Martin, devoted to our Blessed Mother, pray for us!
Saint Martin, lover of the most holy rosary, pray for us!
Saint Martin, comfortor of the sick and dying, pray for us!
Saint Martin, model of obedience, pray for us!
Saint Martin, apostle of mercy, pray for us!
"The example of Martin’s life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us: first, by loving God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and second, by loving your neighbor as yourself.” Pope John XXIII at the canonization
No comments:
Post a Comment