St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin de Porres in 1579 in Lima, Peru. His father was a Spanish nobleman and his mother was a freed slave of African and native decent. His parents weren’t married, and after his sister was born two years later, his father abandoned the family. He grew up in poverty.

Under Peruvian law, those of African and native decent were not allowed to become full members of religious orders. At 15, Martin asked the local Dominicans to accept him as a “donado,” a lay volunteer/servant who worked in the monastery in return for living with the community and wearing their habit. He did kitchen work, laundry, and cleaning. In 1603, the prior decided to ignore the law and allowed Martin to take vows as a third order Dominican. While the prior showed him kindness, other brothers mocked him for being mulatto, illegitimate, and descended from slaves.

He was assigned to the infirmary, where he cared for the sick and became known for his (sometimes miraculous) healing and patience. He also ministered to the sick outside of the monastery and showed no distinction between status or race.

He lived an austere life beyond the rule of the Dominicans. He did not eat meat and begged for alms to feed the poor. He also founded a residence for orphans and abandoned children and raised dowries for poor girls. He was beloved in Lima, and it was said he was gifted with many miracles, including bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, and an ability to communicate with animals.

St. Martin de Porres died on Nov. 3, 1639 after suffering almost a year of illness. His feast day is (appropriately this year) Nov. 3. He is the patron of mixed-race people, innkeepers, public health workers, public schools, social justice, and those seeking racial harmony.