Feast Day: November 3
Patron Saint of: social justice, the poor, mixed-race people, and public health workers
About St. Martin de Porres
Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed Black woman from Panama. Because of his mixed race, he faced discrimination all his life, yet he responded with profound humility and charity.
He joined the Dominican Order as a lay brother and lived a life of deep prayer, penance, and service to the poor and sick. Miracles of healing and even bilocation were attributed to him during his lifetime. St. Martin’s extraordinary love for all—humans and animals alike—reflected his belief that every creature is precious in God’s eyes.
He died in 1639 and was canonized by Pope St. John XXIII in 1962 as a model of Christian charity and racial harmony.
Prayer:
O gentle St. Martin de Porres, you showed us how to love without limits. Help us to serve others with humility and compassion, seeing Christ in everyone we meet. Amen.
Leave us your prayers…