There is an event in the life of the Dominican friar, St. Martin de Porres, that is worth recalling this week. In the latter part of the 16th century, Martin became what is called “a lay brother” in Lima, Peru. In Peru’s colonial days, the ruling Spaniards brought over thousands of Africans as slaves. Some of the slaves eventually won their freedom, but most did not; and there was as much racial discrimination in South America as there has been in the United States.
In his own person, Martin summarized the woes of the kidnapped Africans. His Mother, Anna Velasquez, was a free black woman; his father was a Spanish nobleman – in rank if not in character. When Anna showed her husband their baby boy, he exclaimed, “I won’t accept him as mine. He’s too dark!” Eventually, he came around and acknowledged his legal paternity. But he did very little to help his son, so Martin had to live out the role of a “half-caste” (or mixed-race) man on the fringe of society in Lima. Others might have soured on life, but not Martin. He chose sanctity over cynicism!
Joining the Dominican Order, he spent his life in utter humility and service of others. One day, he learned that his superior, faced with a shortage of funds to run the monastery, had set out for the market to sell some of the house’s most valuable items. Martin ran after the priest and caught up with him prior to reaching the marketplace. “Please don’t sell our possessions,” the saint blurted out. “Sell me! I am strong and can work!” The superior, deeply touched, shook his head and said gently, “Go back to the monastery, you are not for sale!” So Martin remained free. But he had at least tried sincerely to imitate the Christ who did “empty Himself and took on the form of a slave … obediently accepting even death, death on a Cross.” (Philippians 2, 7-8) St. Martin’s Feastday is celebrated in November, but let’s call on his generous intercession this Holy Week.
“Most humble St. Martin, whose burning charity embraces all people, we turn to you for help this week. May we, by imitating your charity and humility, find quiet and contentment, a re-dedication to the way of holiness, and cheerful submission to God’s holy will in all the trials and difficulties of life. Amen.”
