Black Catholic History Month: St. Martin de Porres – Slave Descent, But Always Free

Yesterday was the feast day Black Catholic saint St. Martin de Porres. And his feast day is a great way to kick off Black Catholic history month! Saint Martin sanctified Black Catholic history!

Born: December 9, 1579

Died: November 3, 1639

Canonized: May 6, 1962 by Pope St. John XXIII

Feast Day: November 3

Patronage: black people, mixed-raced people, Peru, barbers, public health

From the breviary’s info on him:

“Saint Martin de Porres was born at Lima in Peru of a Spanish father and a [Black] mother in 1579. As a boy he studied medicine which later as a member of the Dominican order, he put to good use in helping the poor. He led a humble and disciplined life and was devoted to the holy eucharist.”

He was also known for his miracles such aerial flights, bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, spiritual knowledge and for his excellent relationship with animals.

He was also known for his miracles such aerial flights, bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, spiritual knowledge and for his excellent relationship with animals.

And so much of his life parallels the Black experience in the history of not just the US but of the Americas in general.

He checks a number of boxes of issues that we as Black people have faced in the past and some still face today. Let’s see from the facts I pulled about his life on

– born out of wedlock, parents never married

– father left home after the birth of a child (his sister after him)

– single parent household, raised by mother (true for me too)

– encountered racist laws

– encountered racial discrimination

– not allowed to join something as a full member on

account of race

– Mocked/ridiculed by other for his race and

background

– poor family and life growing up

– assigned the most menial of tasks

I couldn’t help but think “man, he lived a life not too different from us.

But as he had a life that showcased a bit of Black struggle, he also had a life that showcased a bounty of Black triumph. Even when life tried to keep him out of his calling he persevered and fought the devil’s lie of racism with God’s truth of love. Even though he was racial discriminated against he never returned it with hatred, but followed his Lord’s call to bless his persecutors.

He shows us a life of strength and holiness that can be found in ordinary life with ordinary tasks as he worked the most basic jobs while later advancing from them. He has a quote which reminds me of another great Black leader:

St. Martin de Porres said: “Everything, even sweeping, scraping vegetables, weeding a garden and waiting on the sick could be a prayer, if it were offered to God.”

Martin Luther King Jr. said: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

I provide more on his life on my full page for him in my site’s Black Catholic Saints section. Check that out to learn more about St. Martin, and then go make friends with him by seeking his intercessions for your needs. The saints in heaven are always looking for more friends here on earth, and they especially love helping them.

St. Martin, pray for us!

Cover image artist: Vicente Moya Gallego. Fair Use