Saint Martin de Porres 11-03

realcatholictv Also known as Martín de Porres Velázquez Martin of Charity Martin the Charitable Saint of the Broom (for his devotion to his work, no matter how menial)
Memorial 3 November
Profile The illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman, Juan, and a young freed black slave, Anna Velasquez, Martin grew up in poverty. He spent part of his youth with a surgeon–barber from whom he learned some medicine and care of the sick. At age 11 he became a servant in the Holy Rosary Dominican priory in Lima, Peru. Promoted to almoner, he begged more than $2,000 a week from the rich to support the poor and sick of Lima. Placed in charge of the Dominican‘s infirmary; known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures. His superiors dropped the stipulation that “no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our Order” and Martin took vows as a Dominican brother in 1603. Established an orphanage and children‘s hospital for the poor children of the slums. Set up a shelter for the stray cats and dogs and nursed them back to health. Lived in self-imposed austerity, never ate meat, fasted continuously, and spent much time in prayer and meditation with a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Friend of Saint John de Massias.
He was venerated from the day of his death. Many miraculous cures, including raising the dead attributed to Brother Martin. First black saint from the Americas.

Born

9 December 1579 at Lima, Peru

Died

3 November 1639 in Lima, Peru of fever

Venerated

27 February 1763 by Pope Clement XIII (decree on heroic virtues)

Beatified

29 October 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI

Canonized

6 May 1962 by Pope John XXIII

Patronage

African-Americans
against rats
barbers
bi-racial people
black people
for inter-racial justice
for social justice
hair stylists
hairdressers
hotel-keepers
innkeepers
mixed-race people
mulattoes
Negroes
paupers
Peru
poor people
public education
public health
public schools
race relations
racial harmony
state schools
television
—
Accra, Ghana, archdiocese of
Biloxi, Mississippi, diocese of

Representation

broom
crucifix
dog, cat, bird, and mouse eating together from a same dish
rosary
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