ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 3rd of November
SAINT MARTIN OF PORRES, RELIGIOUS
Saint Martin of Porres was born in Lima on December 9, 1579, “son of an unknown father”. He was the illegitimate son of Spanish nobleman, Juan of Porres, and Ana Velasquez, a former slave. His father refused to recognise him as his son at first. When he was eight years old he spent a brief period of time with his father in Ecuador but later returned to Lima where his father continued sending money so that Martin could finish his studies.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
He asked to be admitted as a “lay brother” at a Dominican convent in Rosario, Lima, and was accepted at the age of 15. In the convent he soon became recognised for his humility, charity and meekness. He is often portrayed in icons with a broom in his hand and is still well known as the “Brother of the Broom”, which highlights his readiness to perform even the humblest of tasks. He lived with great austerity, was contrite and fervent in his work.
A MAN OF PRAYER
He was also a man of prayer and was the designated nurse of his large community (around 200 Religious). Apart from helping those within his community, “Charitable Martin” also took care of many of the poor people who became ill in the city. On June 2, 1603, after nine years of service to the Order as a “lay brother”, he took his religious vows.
GOD ENRICHED HIM WITH MANY CHARISMS
God enriched him with many charisms, one of which was bilocation, the gift of being in two places at once. This enabled him not only to encourage those missionaries who were facing difficulties in places such as Africa, China and Japan, but also to be at the side of many sick people who were dying and to console them in their final moments.
JESUS CHRIST'S LOVE
Helped by many rich and generous benefactors from the city he founded the Santa Cruz Home in order to attend the down and out, beggars and orphans, with the aim to help them get out of their distressing situation. Aged 60, after having spent 45 years in the Dominican Convent, Brother Martin fell sick and said that he would die from the illness. The shock at this news was felt all over Lima and even the Viceroy, the Earl of Chinchon, visited him, kissing Martin’s hands “that had done so much good”. Martin died on November 3, 1639.
THE ENTIRE CITY WENT TO HIS FUNERAL
The entire city went to his funeral and many miracles occurred through his intercession. The humble life of Saint Martin of Porres is still entirely relevant today. Many have a great devotion towards this humble religious man whose holiness even during his life became well known outside of his Convent and even outside of Peru.
Excerpts from an article by Fr Pierfilippo Giovanetti in "Opus Christi Salvatoris Mundi" - Newsletter, paper edition, Lent 2013 issue
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