Martin de Porres
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St. Martín de Porras was born on December 9 1579 in Lima, Peru; he died in 1639 and was beatified in 1873; he was canonized on May 16 1962 by Pope John XXIII.
He was a Dominican monk, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a young free black woman. 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.
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. He 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.
External links
- St. Martin de Porres website and Image (http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=306)de:Martin de Porres