Today we celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Porres who was born in Lima in Peru on. December 9,1579. Martins father was a wealthy man from Spain and his mother was a freed slave from Panama, possibly of African or Native American descent. Although they never married Martin's parents had two children before their father abandoned them, leaving the family to grow up in great poverty. With no real education Martins mother placed him with a barber come surgeon where he learnt to cut hair and do some medical procedures.
Martin suffered many taunts for the colour of his skin he was ridiculed often for coming from a mixed race family. However this did not turn him into an angry or bitter young man but drove him to his knees more deeply in his prayer life. He longed to enter a religious community but the laws at time denied anyone of African or Indian descent from becoming full members of religious orders.
Martin asked the Dominicans of the Holy Rosary Priory in Lima if he could become a volunteer. He spent many a long year performing the most menial of tasks in the monastery.
Martins faith and kindly ways did not go unnoticed by those that he lived with, eventually the prior of the order, Juan de Lorenzana decided to disregard the laws based on race and allowed Martin to take his vows to become a member of the Third Order of the Dominicans.
Martin asked the Dominicans of the Holy Rosary Priory in Lima if he could become a volunteer. He spent many a long year performing the most menial of tasks in the monastery.
Martins faith and kindly ways did not go unnoticed by those that he lived with, eventually the prior of the order, Juan de Lorenzana decided to disregard the laws based on race and allowed Martin to take his vows to become a member of the Third Order of the Dominicans.
By the time he was 24 Martin had become a lay brother of the order and was assigned to the infirmary where his medical skills we're put to good use. He remained there until he died. Martin's love for Gods' people became very evident in the way he cared for those who were sick. Regardless of race or class, nobleman or slave Martin cared for them all often bringing them into his own bed. He tended all his patients with tenderness and great love.
During an epidemic in Lima, many of the friars in the Convent of the Rosary became very ill. Locked away in a distant section of the convent, they were kept away from the professed brothers. However, on more than one occasion, Martin passed through the locked doors to care for the sick without any thought for his own well being.
His abilities to heal extended not only to humans who had much need but also to the animal kingdom. Like St. Francis, Martin had a great love for all creatures large and small. He could never go past an injured cat or dog without taking it to his sisters house where they had established a form of sanctuary for sick and injured creatures. Martin would make herbal medicines to treat his "patients."
There is another story told about the day he helped some mice who had taken up residence. In the altar linen cupboard. The Friars wanted to poison the little furry critters but Martin decided to do a deal with the mice. He promised that if they would move to a new home at the bottom of the garden he would feed them each day. Now like the proverbial pied piper St. Martin led the mice down the garden to their new abode. Both Martin and the mice held up their end of the bargain, and the mice never went back to eating or nesting among the altar linens again. That is why St. Martin is often depicted with a dog, cat and mouse sitting at his feet!
His abilities to heal extended not only to humans who had much need but also to the animal kingdom. Like St. Francis, Martin had a great love for all creatures large and small. He could never go past an injured cat or dog without taking it to his sisters house where they had established a form of sanctuary for sick and injured creatures. Martin would make herbal medicines to treat his "patients."
There is another story told about the day he helped some mice who had taken up residence. In the altar linen cupboard. The Friars wanted to poison the little furry critters but Martin decided to do a deal with the mice. He promised that if they would move to a new home at the bottom of the garden he would feed them each day. Now like the proverbial pied piper St. Martin led the mice down the garden to their new abode. Both Martin and the mice held up their end of the bargain, and the mice never went back to eating or nesting among the altar linens again. That is why St. Martin is often depicted with a dog, cat and mouse sitting at his feet!
Martin also proved to be a great fund raiser and managed to raise large amounts of money which enabled him to open an orphanage. He also used to provide money for young women who had no dowries thus allowing them to marry.
There were times when Martin found himself in trouble on one occasion Martin was reprimanded for not following the rules of the Convent, but after replying, "Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity," he was given full liberty to follow his heart in mercy. His gentle ways and spiritual devotion led people to seek Martin out for spiritual direction, and prayers for healing. This did not sit comfortably with Martin because he preferred to remain obscure but he endured it as he felt God was asking this of him.
Martin had great friends in both St. Juan Macías, a fellow Dominican lay brother, and St. Rose of Lima.
In January of 1639, when Martin was 60-years-old, he became very ill with chills, fevers and tremors causing him agonizing pain. He would experience almost a year full of illness until he passed away on November 3, 1639.
By the time he died, he was widely known and accepted. Talks of his miracles in medicine and caring for the sick were everywhere. After his death, the miracles received when he was invoked in such greatness that when he was exhumed 25 years later, his body exhaled a splendid fragrance and he was still intact.
St. Martin de Porres was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI on October 29, 1837 and canonized by Pope John XXII on May 1962.
I'm sure there are many ways to honour this humble, gentle saint. As a family maybe you could visit someone who is poorly and lift their spirits, or help out at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. At this time of year there are many collections for the "shoebox"appeal. Taking the children to the supermarket and choosing some nice "essentials" to give to those in need is a great way of emulating St.Martin, and as a special treat I think we might have some sugared mice for tea!
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