Saint Martin de Porres

Saint Martin de Porres was born on December 9, 1579 in Lima, Peru. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a former African slave. As a young child, Martin was placed in the care of a surgeon-barber, who taught him about medicine. Martin loved caring for the sick.

At 15, Martin was admitted to the Dominican Order, first as a servant boy, then eventually as almoner, the person in charge of distributing money to the poor. Eventually, Martin officially entered the Dominicans as a tertiary. His holiness was so great that years later, racial limits were overlooked and he became a full Dominican friar.

Because of his medical training, Martin was able to care for the sick when an epidemic struck Lima. He cured countless novices in his order, who would not have survived if it hadn't been for his care. In Martin's monastery, the novices were separated from the professed by locked doors. Martin miraculously passed through these doors several times to care for the men though he was professed. When his superior heard of this, he became angry and reprimanded him. Martin replied humbly, "Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity." His superior did not know what to make of this reply, and granted him permission thereafter to care for the novices as he saw fit.

Martin died on November 3, 1639 at the age of 59. He is the patron saint of Peru, people of mixed races, the poor, race relations, social justice and hair stylists.

Feast Day: November 3

PRAYER:

To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our families the precious gifts of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual benevolence in God men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.