St. Martin de Porres, Religious
Feast
Born in Lima, Peru, in 1579, the son of Juan, a Spanish nobleman, and Anna Velasquez, a freed Black woman, Martin stands among the saints as a witness of the Black peoples who were painfully humiliated in the New World.
He was working as a barber’s assistant when he asked to enter the Order of St. Dominic. He was received among the lay brothers of the convent of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lima, where, in 1603, he was admitted to make solemn profession.
Endowed with marvelous simplicity, innocence and faith, he was assigned humble duties, yet was exalted by God with heavenly gifts and charisms. Burning with deep devotion to the mystery of the Eucharist and to the Passion of the Redeemer, he lived wholly devoted to works of charity for the poor, especially the sick, and even for animals. For this reason, he was fittingly given as heavenly patron of the cooperator brothers.
He loved fasting, severe penance and prayer, especially at night, following the example of Jesus. From prayer he drew the light that wonderfully illumined his teaching of Christian doctrine.
He died in Lima on Nov. 3, 1639. Gregory XVI declared him blessed in 1837, and John XXIII enrolled him among the saints on May 6, 1962.
Martin draws to himself the hearts of all who dwell in North and South America, not only because of his singular humility, which is itself attractive, but also because he himself is a sign.
Proprium Officiorum Ordinis Praedicatorum ad Normam Decretorum Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II Instauratum Vincentii Couesnongle iussu editum, Editio typica, Sanctae Sabinae, Romae 1982.
