St. Martin de Porres - Nov. 3rd

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Martin de Porres, who was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. At the age of 15, he became a lay brother at the Dominican Friary in Lima. Following in the footsteps of St. Dominic, he spent his whole life there, as a barber, farm-laborer and infirmarian, who takes care of the sick brothers.

He is often pictured holding a broom and there are usually mice and a dog beside him in artistic depictions because he had a special way with animals, who would come when he called them. He would call mice, and they would come and feed them.

He had a great desire to go off to some foreign mission and be martyred. Since, he would not receive this grace, he martyred himself devoting himself to severe penances.

Whenever he would contemplate the sufferings of Jesus, he begin to weep. He had an exceptional love and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and spent long hours in prayer before Jesus truly present in the tabernacle. He desired to receive the Eucharist as often as possible. As a religious brother, he was very obedient, and dealt with his religious brothers with profound love which comes from pure faith and humility of spirit. For the poor, he provided food, clothing and medicine. Many called him, “Martin the Charitable” because he looked at everyone as his own brothers and sisters, and considered them to be better and more righteous than himself. Just as Padre Pio, was able to fly in the air, and bilocate, so Martin de Porres, bilocated, and was seen in flight, yet he lived 400 yrs. before St. Padre Pio.

St. Martin, the charitable, in a special way came to follow the way of charity. Today, let us imitate his example, by spending time with Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, so that we may truly live a life of charity.