Martin de Porres

Martin de Porres
Martin of Charity
Born	December 9 1579(1579-12-09) 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 by Pope John XXIII
Major shrine	Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima
Feast	November 3
Attributes	dog,cat, bird, and mouse; broom, crucifix, rosary
Patronage	mixed race and black people, Peru, poor people, public education, public health, race relations, social justice, state schools, etc.

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

Early years

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.

Becoming a Domincan

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.

Piety and miracles

Martin of Porres pictured in an infirmary with broom, dog, cat, crucifix, and rosary.

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. Working with the sick outside his convent, he is said to have often effected their healing with only a simple glass of water.

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 his condition. One of his brethren, considering he had gone too far in his charity, reproved him, and 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.”

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.

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!"

When an epidemic struck Lima, 60 residents of the convent took sick, many of them novices in a distant and locked section of the monastery, separated from the those who had taken Holy Orders. Martin reportedly passed through the locked doors to care for them, a phenomenon which was observed in the residence more than once. The ordained monks, too, reported suddenly seeing Marin appear beside them without the doors having been opened.

Martin continued to transport the sick to the convent until the provincial Superior, alarmed by the contagion threatening the monks, forbade him to continue to do so. His sister, who lived in the country, offered her house to lodge those whom the small monastery could not hold.

One day Martin 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 Martin for disobedience. “Forgive my error, and please instruct me," Martin replied perhaps with a note of irony, "for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity.” The Superior gave him liberty thereafter to follow his inspirations in the exercise of mercy.

His work on behalf of the poor throughout his life was reportedly tireless. Maintaining an austere lifestyle, which included fasting, self-flagellation, and forswearing meat, he established an orphanage and a children's hospital.

Death and legacy

Stained glass window depicting Saint Martin of Porres

Martin was a friend of his fellow saints 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. His body was then interred in the grounds of the monastery.

His work established a famous residence for orphans and abandoned children, where they were educated in piety for a creative Christian life. Before becoming a monk, he expressed the desire to become a missionary, but he never left his native city. However, even during his lifetime he was reportedly 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 in Africa, telling them of heaven. Later the same slave saw Martin in Peru and was very happy to meet him again, asking Martin if he had had a good voyage. Only later did he learn that Martin had never left Lima.

When 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..!” Immediately, he saw Martin enter his room. This man, too, did not know until later that Martin 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 blessing reportedly received when his name was invoked multiplied in such profusion that his body was exhumed after 25 years and found intact, even supposedly emitting 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; and Gregory XVI beatified him in 1837. However, it was not until 1962 Pope John XXIII canonized him.

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. Saint Martin of Porres is the Saint Protector of the Mixed Race people.

External links

Portal:Saints

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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