Martin de Porres
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St. Martín de Porres (December 9 1579--1639) was a Dominican friar who was beatified in 1873 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized on May 16 1962 by Pope John XXIII. His feast day is November 3.
He was born in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a young freed slave woman, possibly Afro-Peruvian, born in Panama. He grew up in poverty, and at the age of 11 was taken in by the Dominicans as a servant. As his duties grew he was promoted to almoner, and then put in charge of the infirmary. His piety and miraculous cures led his superiors to drop the racial limits on admission to the Order and he was made a full Dominican brother. It is said that when his priory was in debt, he implored them: "I am only a poor mulatto. Sell me. I am the property of the order. Sell me."
His work on behalf of the poor was tireless: he established an orphanage and a children's hospital. He maintained an austere lifestyle, which included fasting and forswearing meat. His devotion to prayer was notable even by the pious standards of the age. Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of levitation, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures and an ability to communicate with animals.
In iconography, Martin de Porres is often depicted with a broom, since he considered all work to be sacred no matter how menial.
He was a friend of St. John de Massias and Saint Rose of Lima. He died in Lima in 1639.
The district of San Martín de Porres in Lima was named in honor of this saint.
External links
- redirect
- [St. Martin de Porres website and image]
- [St. Martin de Porres] – Saints of the Day
- [Prayer for the intercession of St. Martin de Porres]
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