Difference between revisions of "Martin de Porres" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Saint Martín de Porres''' (December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639) was a [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] cooperator brother | + | '''Saint Martín de Porres''' (December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639) was a [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] cooperator brother from Peru. Born of the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and former black slave, he grew up in poverty and was taken in as a servant by the Dominicans at the age of 15. His reputation for piety and the ability to perform miraculous cures led the Dominicans to suspend the rules against mulattoes joining their order, and he eventually became of Dominican monk. |
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| + | He was [[Beatification|beatified]] in 1837 by [[Pope Gregory XVI]] and [[Canonization|canonized]] on May 6 1962 by [[Pope John XXIII]]. | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
| − | Martin was born in [[Lima]], [[Peru]] | + | Martin was born in [[Lima]], [[Peru]] as the illegitimate son of a [[Spain|Spanish]] nobleman and a young, [[Black people|black]] former slave from[[Panama]]. He also had a younger sister, Juana, born in 1581. |
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| + | Martin grew up in poverty, and his mother could not support him and his sister, he was entrusted to a primary school for two years, then placed as an assistant to a surgeon, where his duties allowed him to observe and learn the medical arts. Only ten years old at the time, he expressed great joy to be employed in helping others while earning his living. By this time he was already spending hours each night in prayer, a practice which increased rather than diminished as he grew older. He also engaged in the then-honored practice of flagellating himself three times every nigh, punishing his body both for his own sins and failings, and as a sacrifice for the conversion of pagans and sinners. | ||
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| + | and at the age of 15 was taken in by the Dominicans as a servant boy at the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima. He was soon promoted to [[almoner]], successfully beggin more than $2,000 a week to support the the priory's work among the poor and sick. Despite this effective service to the Dominican Order, racism prevent Martin from taking Holy Orders, since the Dominican constitution held that "no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our order." | ||
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| + | In 1603, his superiors were finally influenced to drop the racial limits on admission to the Order and he was made a full Dominican brother. | ||
| + | Martin was thus put in charge of the [[infirmary]], where he gained a reputation for piety and the ability to perform miraculous cures. Ever an example of humility and self-sacrifice, Martin still retain the mentality of a servant, indeed even of a slave. When his priory was in debt, Martin reportedly implored them: "I am only a poor [[mulatto]], sell me. I am the property of the order, sell me please!" | ||
| − | + | Deeply devoted attached to the sacrament of the Eucharst, Martin reportedly remained at prayer before the sacramental altar one night despite despite a fire that broke out, remaining in blissful contemplation while confusion and chaos reigned around him. Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of [[levitation]], [[bilocation]] (being in two places at one time), miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures, and an ability to communicate with animals. | |
| − | + | His work on behalf of the poor was reportedly tireless. Maintaining an austere lifestyle, which included [[fasting]] and forswearing meat, he established an [[orphanage]] and a children's [[hospital]]. | |
Martin was a friend of St. [[John de Massias]] and [[Saint Rose of Lima]]. He died in Lima in 1639. As his body was displayed to allow the people of the city to pay their respects, each person snipped a tiny piece of his habit to keep as a relic. It is said that three habits were taken from the body. His body was then interred in the grounds of the monastery. | Martin was a friend of St. [[John de Massias]] and [[Saint Rose of Lima]]. He died in Lima in 1639. As his body was displayed to allow the people of the city to pay their respects, each person snipped a tiny piece of his habit to keep as a relic. It is said that three habits were taken from the body. His body was then interred in the grounds of the monastery. | ||
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He asked for admission to the Dominican Convent of the Rosary in Lima and was received first as a tertiary. When he was 24, he was given the habit of a Coadjutor Brother and assigned to the infirmary of that convent, where he would remain in service until his death at the age of sixty. His superiors saw in him the virtues necessary to exercise unfailing patience in this difficult role, and he never disappointed them. On the contrary, it was not long before miracles began to happen, and Saint Martin was working also with the sick outside his convent, often bringing them healing with only a simple glass of water. He begged for alms to procure for them necessities the Convent could not provide, and Providence always supplied what he sought. | He asked for admission to the Dominican Convent of the Rosary in Lima and was received first as a tertiary. When he was 24, he was given the habit of a Coadjutor Brother and assigned to the infirmary of that convent, where he would remain in service until his death at the age of sixty. His superiors saw in him the virtues necessary to exercise unfailing patience in this difficult role, and he never disappointed them. On the contrary, it was not long before miracles began to happen, and Saint Martin was working also with the sick outside his convent, often bringing them healing with only a simple glass of water. He begged for alms to procure for them necessities the Convent could not provide, and Providence always supplied what he sought. | ||
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When he died in 1639, Saint Martin was known to the entire city of Lima; word of his miracles had made him known as a Saint to every resident of the region. After his death, the miracles and graces received when he was invoked multiplied in such profusion that his body was exhumed after 25 years and found intact, and exhaling a fine fragrance. Letters to Rome pleaded for his beatification; the decree affirming the heroism of his virtues was issued in 1763 by [[Clement XIII]]; [[Gregory XVI]] beatified him in 1837, and in 1962 [[Pope John XXIII]] canonized him. He is the Saint Protector of the Mixed Race people. | When he died in 1639, Saint Martin was known to the entire city of Lima; word of his miracles had made him known as a Saint to every resident of the region. After his death, the miracles and graces received when he was invoked multiplied in such profusion that his body was exhumed after 25 years and found intact, and exhaling a fine fragrance. Letters to Rome pleaded for his beatification; the decree affirming the heroism of his virtues was issued in 1763 by [[Clement XIII]]; [[Gregory XVI]] beatified him in 1837, and in 1962 [[Pope John XXIII]] canonized him. He is the Saint Protector of the Mixed Race people. | ||
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| + | ==Legacy== | ||
| + | In iconography, Martin de Porres is often depicted as a young mulatto priest with a [[broomstick|broom]], since he considered all work to be sacred no matter how menial. It is also shown with him the dog, the cat and the mouse, eating in peace from their dish. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 01:39, 14 October 2008
| Martin de Porres | |
|---|---|
| Martin of Charity Saint of the Broom | |
| Born | December 9 1579 in Lima, Peru |
| Died | November 3 1639 (aged 59) in Lima, Peru |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church |
| Beatified | 1837
by Gregory XVI |
| Canonized | May 6, 1962 |
| Major shrine | Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima, Peru;
St. Martin De Porres National Shrine in Memphis, Tennessee |
| Feast | November 3 |
| Attributes | a dog, a cat, a bird, and a mouse eating together from a same dish; broom, crucifix, rosary |
| Patronage | diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, black people, hair stylists, innkeepers, mixed-race people, Peru, poor people, public education, public health, public schools, race relations, social justice, state schools, television, Peruvian Naval Aviators |
Saint Martín de Porres (December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639) was a Dominican cooperator brother from Peru. Born of the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and former black slave, he grew up in poverty and was taken in as a servant by the Dominicans at the age of 15. His reputation for piety and the ability to perform miraculous cures led the Dominicans to suspend the rules against mulattoes joining their order, and he eventually became of Dominican monk.
He was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized on May 6 1962 by Pope John XXIII.
Summary
Martin was born in Lima, Peru as the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a young, black former slave fromPanama. He also had a younger sister, Juana, born in 1581.
Martin grew up in poverty, and his mother could not support him and his sister, he was entrusted to a primary school for two years, then placed as an assistant to a surgeon, where his duties allowed him to observe and learn the medical arts. Only ten years old at the time, he expressed great joy to be employed in helping others while earning his living. By this time he was already spending hours each night in prayer, a practice which increased rather than diminished as he grew older. He also engaged in the then-honored practice of flagellating himself three times every nigh, punishing his body both for his own sins and failings, and as a sacrifice for the conversion of pagans and sinners.
and at the age of 15 was taken in by the Dominicans as a servant boy at the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima. He was soon promoted to almoner, successfully beggin more than $2,000 a week to support the the priory's work among the poor and sick. Despite this effective service to the Dominican Order, racism prevent Martin from taking Holy Orders, since the Dominican constitution held that "no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our order."
In 1603, his superiors were finally influenced to drop the racial limits on admission to the Order and he was made a full Dominican brother. Martin was thus put in charge of the infirmary, where he gained a reputation for piety and the ability to perform miraculous cures. Ever an example of humility and self-sacrifice, Martin still retain the mentality of a servant, indeed even of a slave. When his priory was in debt, Martin reportedly implored them: "I am only a poor mulatto, sell me. I am the property of the order, sell me please!"
Deeply devoted attached to the sacrament of the Eucharst, Martin reportedly remained at prayer before the sacramental altar one night despite despite a fire that broke out, remaining in blissful contemplation while confusion and chaos reigned around him. Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of levitation, bilocation (being in two places at one time), miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures, and an ability to communicate with animals.
His work on behalf of the poor was reportedly tireless. Maintaining an austere lifestyle, which included fasting and forswearing meat, he established an orphanage and a children's hospital.
Martin was a friend of St. John de Massias and Saint Rose of Lima. He died in Lima in 1639. As his body was displayed to allow the people of the city to pay their respects, each person snipped a tiny piece of his habit to keep as a relic. It is said that three habits were taken from the body. His body was then interred in the grounds of the monastery.
He asked for admission to the Dominican Convent of the Rosary in Lima and was received first as a tertiary. When he was 24, he was given the habit of a Coadjutor Brother and assigned to the infirmary of that convent, where he would remain in service until his death at the age of sixty. His superiors saw in him the virtues necessary to exercise unfailing patience in this difficult role, and he never disappointed them. On the contrary, it was not long before miracles began to happen, and Saint Martin was working also with the sick outside his convent, often bringing them healing with only a simple glass of water. He begged for alms to procure for them necessities the Convent could not provide, and Providence always supplied what he sought.
One day an aged beggar, covered with ulcers and almost naked, stretched out his hand, and Saint Martin, seeing the Divine Mendicant in him, took him to his own bed, paying no heed to the fact that he was not perfectly neat and clean. One of his brethren, considering he had gone too far in his charity, reproved him. Saint Martin replied: “Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness. Reflect that with a little soap I can easily clean my bed covers, but even with a torrent of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness toward the unfortunate would create.”
When an epidemic struck Lima, there were in this single convent of the Rosary sixty religious who were sick, many of them novices in a distant and locked section of the convent, separated from the professed. Saint Martin is known to have passed through the locked doors to care for them, a phenomenon which was observed in the residence more than once. The professed, too, saw him suddenly beside them without the doors having been opened; and these facts were duly verified by the surprised Superiors. Martin continued to transport the sick to the convent until the provincial Superior, alarmed by the contagion threatening the religious, forbade him to continue to do so. His sister, who lived in the country, offered her house to lodge those whom the residence of the religious could not hold. One day he found on the street a poor Indian, bleeding to death from a dagger wound, and took him to his own room until he could transport him to his sister’s hospice. The Superior, when he heard of this, reprimanded his subject for disobedience. He was extremely edified by his reply: “Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity.” In effect, there are situations where charity must prevail; and instruction is very necessary. The Superior gave him liberty thereafter to follow his inspirations in the exercise of mercy.
Extra information
In normal times Saint Martin succeeded with his alms to feed 160 poor persons every day, and distributed a remarkable sum of money every week to the indigent—the latter phenomenon hard to explain by ordinary calculations. To Saint Martin the city of Lima owed a famous residence founded for orphans and abandoned children, where they were formed in piety for a creative Christian life. This lay Brother had always wanted to be a missionary, but never left his native city; yet even during his lifetime he was seen elsewhere, in regions as far distant as Africa, China, Algeria, Japan. An African slave who had been in irons said he had known Martin when he came to relieve and console many like himself, telling them of heaven. When later the same slave saw him in Peru, he was very happy to meet him again and asked him if he had had a good voyage; only later did he learn that Saint Martin had never left Lima. A merchant from Lima was in Mexico and fell ill; he said aloud: “Oh, Brother Martin, if only you were here to care for me..!” and immediately saw him enter his room. And again, this man did not know until later that he had never been in Mexico....
When he died in 1639, Saint Martin was known to the entire city of Lima; word of his miracles had made him known as a Saint to every resident of the region. After his death, the miracles and graces received when he was invoked multiplied in such profusion that his body was exhumed after 25 years and found intact, and exhaling a fine fragrance. Letters to Rome pleaded for his beatification; the decree affirming the heroism of his virtues was issued in 1763 by Clement XIII; Gregory XVI beatified him in 1837, and in 1962 Pope John XXIII canonized him. He is the Saint Protector of the Mixed Race people.
Legacy
In iconography, Martin de Porres is often depicted as a young mulatto priest with a broom, since he considered all work to be sacred no matter how menial. It is also shown with him the dog, the cat and the mouse, eating in peace from their dish.
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
| Saints Portal |
- St. Martin de Porres website and image
- St. Martin de Porres – Saints of the Day
- Prayer for the intercession of St. Martin de Porres
- Order of Preachers: Southern Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres
- St. Martin de Porres Shrine & Institute • Memphis, Tennessee
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