Saint of November: San Martín de Porres Velázquez

Introduction:

On this occasion we are going to talk about San Martín de Porres Velázquez who was born on December 9, 1579 in Lima. He is the first mulatto saint of America also known as “the saint of the broom” venerated by the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran Church. Remember that there is a saint per day beyond which one per month is chosen at random to tell his story.

History:

His religious life began as a practical assistant, barber and connoisseur of herbology. At the age of fifteen, thanks to the invitation of Fray Juan de Lorenzana, Martín, he managed to enter the Order of Santo Domingo de Guzmán as a tertiary. He was recently admitted as brother of the order in 1603 and three years later became a friar. He was a prophet who communicated the importance and relevance of obedience, chastity and poverty. But, above all, his personality communicated humility, one of the most important virtues that every human being must develop beyond his religion. He exercised his pastoral and missionary vocation educating the poor about faith, hope and Christianity.

His devotion and dedication to help the poor led him to found the Asylum and School of Santa Cruz thanks to the help of the rich and, above all, the viceroy Luis Jerónimo Fernández de Cabrera and Bobadilla. There he managed to give them containment and a dignified refuge. He also conveyed the message of God in the Philippines, China and Japan. He had a very charismatic personality with which he reached the hearts of both rich and poor, since each being, regardless of their social status, needs God’s love and containment.

Beyond being a follower of models of sanctity of San José, Santa Catalina de Siena or Santo Domingo de Guzmán (among others) never developed a mystical connection as in the case of other saints. In any case, gifts such as bilocation, clairvoyance and control over nature are attributed to him.

Almost reaching his sixties, Martin became ill and announced that it was time to meet God. This news generated a lot of commotion in his city of origin. When he was on his deathbed until the viceroy Luis Jerónimo Fernández, he kissed her hand and asked her to watch over him from the sky. His last request before his death, on November 3, 1939, was that the religious pains intoned aloud the Creed.  

Prayers

Prayer:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who said “ask and you will receive”, we humbly beg you, through the intercession of San Martin de Porres, to listen to our prayers.

Renew, we beg you, the miracles that you performed through your life, and grant us the grace we ask if it is for the good of our soul. So be it.

Ask a favor:

In this need and grief that overwhelms me I come to you, my protector San Martin de Porres.

I want to feel your powerful intercession. You, who lived only for God and for your brothers, who were so solicitous in helping the needy, listen to those who admire your virtues.

I trust in your powerful courage so that, interceding before the God of kindness, my sins may be forgiven and I may be free of evil and misfortune.

Reach me with your spirit of charity and service so that I may lovingly serve you, delivered to my brothers and to do good.

Heavenly Father, for the merits of your faithful servant Saint Martin, help me in my problems and do not let my hope be confused.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.