Our Patron Saint,​ St. Martin de Porres

Martín de Porres Velázquez was born on December 9, 1579 in Lima, Peru. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave of African and Native American descent. His father abandoned the family after the birth of Martin’s sister in 1581, leaving his mother alone to care for her children by taking in laundry. Martin grew up in poverty and as a young teenager became an apprentice to a barber-surgeon.

After his apprenticeship, Martin went to live with the Dominicans of the Holy Rosary Priory in Lima. Because of his mixed heritage, he was not permitted to become a priest, but spent young adult life as a lay Brother and later as a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic.

Martin had a deep relationship with the Blessed Sacrament. One night, while praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, the step of the altar on which he was kneeling, burst into flames. Much chaos and confusion ensued, but Martin remained still, unaware of what transpired around him.

All who came in contact with Martin saw that he had the necessary virtues to care for the sick and bring healing, sometimes by offering only a glass of water to the patient. Knowledge of his healing powers ... spread throughout the region and he was often ministering to the sick outside of his convent. Once, when an old beggar, covered in sores, was brought to him, one of his brothers tried to remove the man, but Martin said, “Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness.”

During his lifetime he won the love and respect of many of his fellow Dominicans and the citizenry outside his convent. Word of his miracles spread through the region. Martin died on November 3, 1639, at age 59. Martin’s body was exhumed after 25 years and was found intact and emitted a fine fragrance. Letters requesting he be beatified followed soon after his death. The decree affirming the heroism of his virtues was issued in 1763 by Pope Clement XIII. He was beatified as Martin de Porres on October 8, 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI, and was canonized as saint on May 6, 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

St. Martin de Porres is the patron saint of mixed-race people, innkeepers, barbers, public health workers, all those seeking racial harmony, and animals. His feast day is November 3, the anniversary of his death.

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The information in this article came from Wikipedia.