Saint Martin de Porres
Feast Day: November 5 |
Martin de Porres was a mulatto. That means that his parents came from two different races. His mother was an African or Indian American; his father was a Spanish soldier.
Martin was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru. Some people disliked mulattos. So Martin suffered from prejudice as he grew up. When Martin was eight, his father left the family. Martin and his baby sister and their mother had little food. So Martin had to work to feed them. When he was twelve, he became a barber. (At that time, barbers cut hair and also helped sick people.)
When he grew older, Martin joined the Dominican Order. He founded an orphanage for the homeless children of Lima. He also founded a nursery for motherless babies. He helped African slaves who had been forced to come to Lima. And he continued to take care of anyone in the city who was sick or diseased.
In 1639, Martin died. God had given him many wonderful gifts. Some people said that he could be in two places at once. Others said that brilliant light filled a dark room when he prayed.
These things may be true, but we remember Martin because he was a kind and good man. He never forgot being poor and disliked. He never forgot that Jesus came to find and save those who were lost. He helped people of every race. So the Church has named Martin the patron saint of interracial justice.
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
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Connecting to Faith First®
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Junior High, Liturgy and Morality, chapter 11