Saint of the Day: St. Martin de Porres

Dominican Lay Brother (1579-1639)

His life

+ Martin de Porres Velazquez was born in Lima, Peru. The son of a Spanish noble and a freed African slave, he entered the Order of Preachers as a lay brother.

+ Serving his community as a barber, farm-laborer, almoner, and infirmarian, Martin devoted his life to prayer and penance. He was also known for his charity to both man and beast.

+ Honored for his spiritual wisdom and insights, he was especially loved by the poor and abandoned.

+ Saint Martin de Porres died on November 3, 1639, and was canonized in 1962.

For prayer and reflection

“The example of Martin's life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us: first, by loving God ‘with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and second, by loving your neighbor as yourself.’”—Pope Saint John XXIII at the canonization of Saint Martin de Porres

Spiritual bonus
On this day, we also remember Saints Caesarius, Germanus, and Theophilus, who were martyred in Caesarea Cappadocia (modern-day Kayseri, Turkey) in the year 250.

Prayer

O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres
by the path of humility to heavenly glory,
grant that we may so follow his radiant example in this life
as to merit to be exalted with him in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.