Prayer to Saint Martin de Porres

Loving God,
St. Marin's Charity not only embraced the needy women and men of his time
But even the animals of the field.
Help us to be instruments of change in the world
Being mindful of Your Son in the face of the Poor.
grant this through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.

St. Martin pray for us.

Biography of St. Martin de Porres

St. Martin was born in Lima, Peru, on December 9, 1579. His father Don Juan de Porres was a Spanish Knight; his Mother, Anna Velasquez was a freed women from Panama of African descent.

At the age 15, Martin entered the Dominican Priory of the Holy Rosary at Lima as a tertiary helper. After nine years his exemplary life led his superiors to order him to become a lay brother in the Dominican order. He worked as a barber, farm-laborer, almoner, and information. His ministry as a barber surgeon extended to the poor and most abandoned of the city of Lima and his love and ministry was shown equally to humans and animals. People often referred to him as "the father of the poor" or the "holy Negro".

St. Martin spent much of his time actively living his faith. Dominicans are called mendicant friars because they beg for their living. However, St. Martin begged in order to help the poor who asked for his help. He founded an orphanage, a hospital, schools and a home for young women to stay in before being married. He maintained a cat and dog hospital at his sister's house and resolved theological problems for the learned of his Order and for Bishops. He also resolved marital problems for many couples, dispensed agricultural advice and raised a dowry for his niece within three days time.

God worked and continues to work through St. Martin in miraculous ways. The rich and poor of Lima flocked to St. Martin to be cured by his combination of medicine and miracles (he could heal a hand shake). He could communicate telepathically with animals and it is said that when he spent time in the infirmary cleaning and sweeping, the cats and mice nearby would not fight (this is why many depictions of St. Martin include a mouse, cat and a broom). Today , over three hundred and fifty years after his death there are reports all over the world, of numerous favors and graces attributed to St. Martin's intercession.

Martin's death on November 3rd 1639 brought great grief to all in Lima. His grave continues to be a site of pilgrimage and miracles to this day. This close friend St. Rose of Lima was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1837 and canonized by Pope John XXII on may 6th 1962. He is the patron saint of social justice, Spanish trade unionists and Peruvian television. His feast day is observed on November the 3rd.