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Saint Martin de Porres

 Martin was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579. His feast day is November 3. Saint Martin’s father was a Spanish gentleman and his mother was a black freed woman from Panama. His parents never married and his father abandoned the family after the birth of Saint Martin’s sister. His single mother, in severe poverty, raised him and his sister. At age twelve, his mother enrolled him in an apprenticeship with a barber-surgeon. There he learned how to cut hair and draw blood; which was a common medical practice at the time. He learned how to bandage wounds and provide medicine to the sick (Catholic Online 2013).

When he was fifteen years old, he was accepted into the Dominican Friary at Lima as a “lay helper.” He did not feel that he was worthy enough to be a religious brother. After nine years, and after showing many examples of prayer, penance, charity, and humility, the community insisted that he take his vows. Saint Martin took his vows and ended up spending his entire life there at the Friary in service as a barber and farm laborer. He would also take care of the sick, no matter what their color, race, or social status was (American Catholic 2012).

Saint Martin had this dream to go off and do missionary work in some foreign land and possibly earn the honor of martyrdom. This was not possible for him because of his financial state, so instead, he made a martyr of his body by making many sacrifices and penance offerings throughout his life.

Saint Martin’s love poured out to all equally during his life. He loved animals and maintained a hospital at his sister’s home for dogs and cats. He was also known to have the gift of spiritual wisdom. He imparted this gift of wisdom onto others whenever he could. He gave advice to his sister, when she was having marital problems; and often, he would give theological advice to the bishops and priests in the area, helping them to work through whatever problems they might be facing (Catholic Online 2013).

Saint Martin was known to have some other amazing gifts from God. He had the gift of levitation, which he experienced during moments of great happiness. He also had the gift of bi-location. There was a merchant from Peru who had gotten sick in Mexico. He called out to Saint Martin, “Oh, Brother Martin, if only you were here to take care of me!” Then, at that very moment, Martin entered his room. Later, this merchant discovered that Saint Martin had never traveled to Mexico (New World Encyclopedia 2008).

He had the gift of healing. There were many reports of miraculous cures that happened while he was caring for the sick. And like Saint Francis, he also had a special gift with the animals. He is the patron saint of barbers, hair stylists, poor people, people of Vietnam, people of Mexico, and social justice (Wikipedia 2013). Saint Martin was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI, in 1837 and was canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 6, 1962 (New World Encyclopedia 2008).