On The Feast Day of St. Martin de Porres

Today is the feast day of another Dominican Saint, St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639).

The monthly listing of Dominican Saints and Blesseds whose feast days are celebrated in November, describe St. Martin as "first a Lay Dominican, then infirmarian, barber, worker among the poor, remarkable wonder-worker, and Church appointed patron of social justice, cooperator brothers and hair dressers".

The Dominican Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours tells us that "[in] his life of prayer Martin was especially devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to the passion of our Lord".

Excerpts from the homily of Pope John XXIII at the Saint's canonization set forth in today's Office of Readings provide more detail of this humble servant:

"Whenever he would contemplate Christ's terrible torture he would be reduced to tears. He had an exceptional love for the great Sacrament of the Eucharist and often spent long hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. His desire was to receive the sacrament in communion as often as possible."

"...He [Saint Martin] loved men because he honestly looked on them as God's children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility that he loved them even more than himself and considered them to be better and more righteous than he was. He did not blame others for their shortcomings. Certain that he deserved more severe punishment for his sins than others did, he would overlook their worst offenses. He was tireless in his efforts to reform the criminal, and he would sit up with the sick to bring them comfort. For the poor he would provide food, clothing and medicine."

You can learn more about St. Martin by reading A Brother to His Brothers, posted a few years ago by Father John Baptist Hoang, O.P.

Would you join our Dominican family in offering the following prayer to our beloved brother in Christ?

"To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our family the precious gift of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven, the coming of His kingdom, so that through mutual benevolence in God, men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen"