St martin de porres

Notes de l'éditeur

1. Some three hundred years ago in the early dayhs of lima, there lived in a boisterous and booming acity a ngrego lay brother of the order of preachers, he plaed himself at the foot of the brotherhood, the lwoliest in the dominican convent of the holy rosary and it was only throug the insistence of his religious supperiors that he dared assume the habbit. In that city fo strange figures, this humble black brother was the sgtrangest, unsurpsed in all peru as an herblaist, his dark hands possed the gift of healing, he laboured among slaves, indians and the poor, yet the wealkth and exalted sought ministrations. Its a third of the way down the length of the continent, nearest to teh poort callao.
2. Intersting thigns about lima Lima is the capital of Peru The history of Lima , the capital of Peru , began with its foundation by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. In 1532, a group of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro defeated the Inca ruler Atahualpa and soon took over his Empire. As Pizarro had been named governor of the lands he conquered by the Spanish Crow n Lima also became an important religious center, a Roman Catholic diocese was established in 1541 and converted to an archdiocese five years later. The oldest university on the continent santo marcos 1551, was run by dominicans. First bishop was a dominican How many saints came from Lima? Rose of lima Saint Rose of Lima , first Roman Catholic saint born in the Americas in 1586 St John Macias 1585 died 1645 St martin himself 1579 Conclusion: so we can see that lima is quite a dominican centered city already. The dominicans have certainly left their stamp on it
3. Just some background of this time period and country to which martin belonged. Social Attitude and Environment : Lima was a combination of black slaves and catholic spanish, and indians (incas and the like). As conquerers the spanish destroyed the inca culture, and melted anything of worth and sent it back to spain as bards, or ingots. Lima was a port city – most of the manual labour was done by african or incas. It also meant there was a lot of people coming and going, commotion and activity Spain wasnt just interested on just colonize, but also to baptise,s o many religious orders flooded the city. There were many half castes or mulattoes, a mix of white nad aftrican. Creoles, free Americans blacks nad half castes, mesitizos part indian part white, chinos, part indian and part african. From these mixed groups came skilled wokers and the common labour force. Most of these mixed groups whilst a bit better off than the native indians or negroes, were still very poor. The Spanish were teh rich ones. For black people and the indians of this time, they were treated like slaves, or with contempt and held little rights, or privledges. They were definitly discriminated against. And it was this environment that St Martin was born into
4. 1.He was born on december 9 1579 2. His baptismal certificate read “father unknown”, and he was baptised in the church of st sebastian. 3. Once a slave she obatined her freedom adn became a cabaret entertainer in teh capital of panama His father was don juan de porres a knight of alcantara, fell in love with her, and to stop romance, going back to the puritinas in spain, he sent her to lima in peru, adn visted her every few months 4. His father juan had come to laint america to find fortune, and he married a negro woman. He at first did not acknowledge martin and anna, mainly because she was from a lower cast, And he was unhappy that martin, had inherited his mothers characteristics. Perhaps as a conquereer it was a slight on his reputation to have a wife and son and daughter who were of the conquered race. There is no doubt he endured suffering nad sorrow in his infancy. 6. There are two accounts of this . One that His father returned when Martin was about 8 years old and took responsibility for getting his children into a better life. He arranged to have Martin and his sister get two years of schooling in Ecuador. Before leaving for panama to govern there, he left joan and martin,with a relative james de miranda, who before his own depature left anna, enough money to cpmplete his education to learna trade. 7. He had a weakness for the poor,and would often donate his money as alms, rather than buying food at the market for his family to eat when his mother sent him on errands. 8. At the age of 12. martin had to make his first important decision. That of a trade. 9. Barbars in that time also did letting bloood terating wounds and fractures, and even prescribing medicine.
5. One of the first incidents, was a few man carriyn an indian who was badly beaten. When they found out that martin was only an apprentice they were dismayed, but when they saw martin work on the man, they were reassured, and because of this and many similar occasions, martin began to come to fame, and eventually, they prefered his work, to that of his professor. . .
6. 1.Went to holy rosary monastry. 2. The order had rules and was reluctant to let him in at first, because of the ongoing debate about africans humanity and soul, as well as the specific matter of martins illigitimacy. Adn these were both storng reasons at the time not to admit him to the order, especially since martin was humble and only wanted to be the lowerst of them. 3. He was eventuall accpted for professions on june 2 1603, nine years after being a lay helper, and he was 24 at the time Religious professison didnt change his life, only his occuoation, Cutting hair for the 300 friars, with each friar needing a haircut every 15 days, and many old and sick priests needing taking care of He carried out all these duties in his 45 years at the convent.
7. Pioneer social worker – at a young age he already was concerned with the poor, and even though his family too was poor, he was quick to give what little his mother had given him to buy food, to others even less fortunate than he was. Chairty was even more important than obediance, he would bring people back to his cell in the convent to treat them until the sick people could leave, and against the prior, and supperior. He would constantly mortify himself, the father priuor asked, in holy obediance, whether or not every night he subkected himself to discipline three times. The firairs who had to cloth martins body, knew of his penancens, when they were astonished to see the iron chain around his waste, the number of scars and oepn wounds on the body. He also worwe the ahir shirt, and never eating meat, and the final three days of holy week he fasted completely. It is said that as a child he had extraordinary wisdom, and even as a friar, when ordered not to bing people back, confronted his prior by saying, i consider the virtue of charity greater than obedience. He accepted punishments, insult, scoldings nad beatings, unjustly, and always accepted it with goo grace, never complained, and remained quiet and suffered with resignation and quite often, racist comments. Never made excuses for things. In fact he rejoiced in these misforuntes and humilations, he never wanted to be seena s a saint, and hid his pennances, his good works, and never took any credit for things. Compassionate, He was always obediant , to the point of instantly appearing when commanded too, and healing people when commanded to, and answering questions in holy obediance against his will, sleeping ona real bed against his will etc. He would pray long hours at night because during they day he was working nad had little or no time for prayer. As a lay brother, he would not be reciting the office, but prayed teh rosary instead. When he was working, his daily routine, would be to attend mass before daybreak, often serving as an acolyte, 8. While working he only took enough to paty for hims room and boarding, and if he got surplus, they were soon given to the poor. His mother no longer needed his help since hist father john de porres, had finally acknowledged his fmaily and was paying for them. At hios boarding house, (which was closer to teh church of san lazaro) he would ask teh caretaker for discareded cnalde stubs in teh evening, where he would use them to light a crucifix, during his prayer.
8. Martins ministry 1. Besides his daily duties, his ministry mainly consisted of tending to the sick, either physically, with his skills as a barber, or through his touch. 2. He was quick to help the brothers, adn even though he would claim it was onyl through sticthes, or his labour, many beleived it was his touch which healed them. Sometimes however it was plain common sense, which advise he gave out, taht greatly helped people. 3. St martin helped novices in their studies in many ways, even though he could not preach, as he was not a priest, he did this through example. He made sure that the noices had plenty of time to study, by helping them in menial tasks, such as doing their laundry, makin sure they had supplies etc. He interceded for one of teh novices being picked on because he was fat, and short. He also had the ability to keep the novices in theri vocations, searching for those who had left, and convincing them adn returning them to the convent. 4.Many beggars would wait by the monastrry door, to receive a meal. St martin after ensuring that the priests, brothers, nvocies, and the sick in the infirmery had eaten, would gather the left overs to distribute to people outside. No matter how large the crowd, someohow there was always enough to feed all who came. After this martin would tell tehm of God, and jesus love for the poor, adn love for each of them, so that not only were the people physically noruised, they were spiritually as well. 5. He would visit thre imprison, to bring food,a dn also to talk to the prisoners, he also interceded for one prisoner whow as to be executed, who was pardoned, adn also helped him start a new life, finding him a job, and giving him a small amount of money. Martin never seemed to lack money. Although he himself practised the strictest poverty, he always had money for those in need, such as the prisoner, etc. Martin was also the almoner, the one responsible for the money people brought in for alms or masses to be said, when food, funds, or clothing were needed for speical projects, he woudl approach teh rich and ask for donations, often he could collect $2000 in a day, which is a large amount even today. Back then it would have been huge. Upon seeing all the children who walked aroudn teh streets, and thought they would turn to crime, if left uncared for. He approached many to create an oprphanage but no one was willing or able to finance the proejct. So he alone went around begging for funds for the project. Once a few people had contributed, it emboldended others who were unwilling to donate at first to also contribute. So the orphanage of teh holy cross was created. But a building for shelter isnt enough, martin wanted the children to be educated. It is said that he had the ability of bilocation, or appearing in other parts of the world, whilst never leaving lima. Martin always wanted to be ,marytryed or be a missionary, but his supperiors would not let him. He was able to solve a problem between his sister and her husband, without leaving the convent, the out of season orrange, brought to a friar who was ill, unusual healing techniques, he calims to have seen it done in france, visiting christian in algeria who were prisoners of the muslims, whom he brought food and money, adn comfort. Care of mice, to keep them out of harms way, and stop them destroying the convent and church. Care for birds, such a the chickens, whom, he would pat and talk to. He cared for dogs, and cats which were sick or injured, until the friars would not allow it, then he begged his siter to help him care for her. He would travel 1.5 miles to her to give wahtever help was necessary and to heal teh dogs and cats. He also brought back to life animals, such as a donkey, and the friiars dog of 18 years. And asking a bull to leave the monatsery where it was causing havoc and fear. He always talked to animals gently, as hed talk to a human
9. He never leftlima, yet people saw him in the novitiate house, in china, in africa, phillipines, fraqnce, mexico algiers. Walk through walls doors that are locked or closed. The many people he healed as he worked in the infirmary After death Healing- lady catherine gonzales, cripple for fiteen years, was ghaled as she touched the coffin Elizabeth orthez was healed when she kissed his picture and prayer Elizxabeth d astorga was freed of fevers declared incurable when a tunif oc st martin was poassed over here Deigo de cevallos, afflicted with laryngitis, and dysentery and point of death, healed with a relic on his throat. He healed father cypriano, the little fatr short boy beaing teased, after he had had fallen ill on a trip from rome to lima Br antonio whop cared for st martin, caught the same fever that martin had, and was healed.
10. He was Procession For a "poor mulatto," Martin's funeral was that of a high ranking official, rather than a humble Dominican Friar. The cortege consisted of religious and friends of the monastery, the Chapter of the Cathedral, superiors of monasteries, lay dignitaries, and military officials. Father Gaspar de Saldana, the Prior, officiated, and Martin's body was borne by four of his most intimate friends - the Viceroy, the Archbishop of Mexico, the Bishop of Cuzco, and John de Penafiel, Judge of the Royal Court. Many times, the habbit needed tobe replaced as people were tearing it and ripping it to keep as souveneirs and relics.. Funeral a spelmdied procession of knights prelates, priests of all teh religious roders, followed by an enourmous crowd of men, women nad chjoldremn accompanied the mortal relmains to the chapte rhall. An archbishop of mexico, the future bishop of cuzvco, the count of chinchon, the viceroy of peru, a royal chamber member, carried the lay borthers coffin.
11. The king os spain asked teh holy father to intrudocute hte cause in 1659, 20 years after arints death. The king sent many letters, followed by similar request from the viceroy of lima, archbishop of lima, the dominicans, nad members of various religious roders in lima The process of intereveiwn was started in 1660, where more than 75 depositions or testoimonies were recoreded. Becayuse it was only 20 years, many peop,e could still remember this information and to describe what they had expereicend first hand. This coillected information was sent to rome in 1668, and reutnred to lima in 1678, hoever teh ship carring the letters were lost at sea, but somehow recovered adn sent to lima. Now the apostolic process started, many testimones and statesmens were heard , but this time there were 175 statments recored. This process took 8 years This time teh papers were lost at sea when sent to rome, but there were copies made, and these got sent to rome. Pope clement declareed martins virtues on february 27 1763 and made him venerable The first officially recognised miracle was gfiven to elvira moriano of lima, where an earthen jug had slipped from her hands and shatered, these peices hit her eye, and not only blinded her but made her lose her eye. No docters could help her, but her son a novice, at santo dominigo, brought a relic of st martin, and put it on her eye, teh paion stopped, adn her sight had been compelty restoered. The boy fell out the 2 nd story of a wealth womens house, where his mother worked as a cleaner. The fall crushed his head, and caused interenal injures. The docter, had no hope of the boy suyrviving, but the spinahs lady, had great faith in martin de porres, tooka picture of amrtin, and put it ont eh boys head, he appeared to be resting, but got up soon afterwards and was compeltly healed. It was 70 years before these 2 miracles were accepted by teh congregation fo rites, and allwoed poepel gregory XVI to sign teh decree approving of the neatificvation of martin, marking him as a blsseed
12. Almost 3000 pilgrims attended in teh church from spain and 1000 from periu, and 1500 from ireland, as well as hundreds us, chile, ecudor, brazil south africa trinidad and the filipines, On May 6, 1962, three hundred and twenty-three years after Martin's death, Pope John XXIII canonized St. Martin de Porres in Rome. We may wonder why there is such a delay, but God works in His own way, not ours. Perhaps it was because the Second Vatican Council was underway, which would result in vast changes enabling a heightened understanding and appreciation for the spiritual life in the Catholic Church. Perhaps it was because the Civil Rights movement was making strides in the United States to bring about an awareness of the equality and contribution of Black Americans. Perhaps this why St. Martin de Porres was canonized, to serve as a Christian model to show that an illegitimate mulatto, relegated to a lowly position in the 16th and 17th century Peruvian society, transcended the prejudice and labored in the fields of the Lord and changed the world around him.
13. Normally st martin can be represented by the following items, A broom crucifix, a dog, cat bird and mouse eating togheter and the rosary.
14. Who is st martin to us now in this time? This is a picture of what the real martin de porres most probably looked like., its very different from the picturescue, images we normaly see.