San Martin de Porres
SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES (1579-1639)
(known as Fray Escoba) His party is celebrated on November 3.
San Martín de Porres was born in Lima in 1579. He was the son of a Spanish hidalgo, D. Juan de Porres, and a mulatto girl, Ana Velázquez. Martín was baptized in the church of San Sebastián, in the same baptismal font where Santa Rosa de Lima would be seven years later.
As a child, Martín was very generous with the poor, to whom he gave part of the money when he went shopping. His mother often took him to the temple. His father, Governor of Panama, provided him with a good education.
Martín learned the trade of barber, which included that of surgeon and general medicine. He fulfilled his office well, especially in favor of the poor, and took advantage of the occasion to speak to them about God, and his kindness was such that he moved everyone. During the day he worked. At night he devoted himself to prayer.
At the age of fifteen he entered as a Dominican tertiary in the convent of Rosario de Lima. There he was happy, serving those inside and outside with humility and charity. He converted the convent into a hospital. He picked up the sick and wounded from the streets, carried them on his shoulders and put them to bed in his own bed. He cared for them and pampered them like a mother. Some religious protested, because he violated the closure and peace. Charity is above closure, answered Martín. His rudimentary medicines, and even more his hands, worked cures and miracles. His charity extended to the poor little animals he found hungry and injured.
There were many homeless people in Lima. He looked for money and founded the Asilo de Santa Cruz for boys and girls. There he cared for them and taught a profession.
His favorite devotions were: Christ Crucified, and in memory of the sufferings of Christ on the Cross he gave himself three daily disciplines. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and he spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament with frequent ecstasy. The Virgin Mary -especially under the invocation of the Rosary- with whom he conversed lovingly. And the guardian angel, to whom he went very often. He tenaciously fought against sleep in prayer.
When smallpox began to wreak havoc in Lima, Martin’s activity and care multiplied. Everywhere he took comfort and remedy. It is said that he enjoyed the privilege of multilocation (being in several places at the same time), since they saw him healing and consoling simultaneously in several places. They all flocked to him. Everyone considered him a saint. He was the angel of Lima.
That superhuman effort came to weaken him dangerously. He fell ill. He knew that he would not get out of that disease. He then suffered many attacks from the devil, but he felt the consolation and company of the Virgin.
When he saw that the happy moment of going to enjoy God was approaching, he asked the religious around him to sing the Creed. As they sang it, he gave his soul to God. It was November 3, 1639.
His death caused profound commotion in the city. He had been everyone’s brother and nurse, especially the poorest. Everyone was fighting to get some relic. The whole city gave him the last goodbye.
His cult has spread prodigiously. Gregory XVI declared him Blessed in 1837. He was canonized by John XXIII in 1962. The Pope recalled, in the canonization homily, the devotions in which the new Saint had distinguished himself: his deep humility that made him consider everyone superior to him , his apostolic zeal, and his continuous efforts to care for the sick and needy, which earned him, by the whole town, the beautiful name of “Martín de la Caridad”.
Festivities in honor of Saint Martin de Porres
In Peru, thanks to the Dominican friars of Lima, the celebrations in honor of San Martín de Porres are celebrated for 40 days. Through this extensive celebration, the goal of the Dominicans is to encourage devotion to this beloved great saint.
The festivities begin on October 31, since it is the day before the image of the saint is placed throughout the month of November on a special throne in the convent of Santo Domingo, where he lived and died. The celebrations will end on December 9, since that day marks the birth of San Martín de Porres.
The activities scheduled for those 40 days are inspired by the charitable works of the Peruvian saint and his cultural importance. These are some of the activities that will take place in the Convent of Santo Domingo and in the Basilica of the Holy Rosary located there:
On the 31st at 6:00 pm the image of San Martín de Porres will be enthroned and a Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary.
On November 3, the saint’s feast day, a Eucharist will be celebrated in the convent at 7:00 p.m.
On November 4, the winners of the Fast Painting Contest dedicated to Saint Martin de Porres will be awarded at 6:00 pm, which will be held on October 29 in the convent’s cloister.
On November 9 at 8:00 pm, a charity cocktail entitled “Pan y Vino” will be held, which has been organized by the Casa San Martín de Porres, an institution that cares for the poor elderly. Those interested in participating in the dinner can write to casadesanmartindeporres@gmail.com.
On November 10 at 8:00 pm, the Apostolic Nuncio in Peru, Msgr. Nicola Girasoli, will inaugurate a new chapel in the convent of Santo Domingo dedicated to Santa Rosa de Lima, who was a friend of San Martín de Porres. That day will also begin in the basilica the prayer of a novena to the saint that will end on the 18th of that month.
On November 12, a Pilgrimage Mass will be celebrated at the “El Ángel” cemetery in memory of all the deceased members of the Brotherhood of Knights of San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías OP (Order of Preachers) .
At 1:00 pm in the atrium of the basilica, members of the Association of Hairdressers and Stylists will cut hair for free to those who want it, and at 3:00 pm the children who belong to the Brotherhood of Knights of San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías OP will carry out a procession through the streets near the convent.
On November 19 at 7:00 am, the Auxiliary Bishop of Lima, Msgr. Adriano Tomasi, will preside over a Eucharist in the basilica and a procession with the image of San Martín de Porres through the streets of the historic center of Lima.
On November 25 at 1:30 pm in the atrium of the convent, free medical care will be provided. The next day there will be a free veterinary care campaign at the same time.
On December 8, a “Serenade to San Martín de Porres” will be held at 8:00 pm and the next day the Dominicans will celebrate a Solemn Mass for the anniversary of the saint’s birth and as the closing of the 40 days of festivities.
On October 31 and November 4, 11, 18 and 25, free concerts will be held at night and the Dominicans have asked that people bring food that will go to the Casa San Martín de Porres.
In addition, during that period of time, a wall of petitions will be installed in the atrium of the Basilica of the Most Holy Rosary.
PRAYER TO SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who said “ask and you shall receive”, we humbly beg you, through the intercession of Saint Martin de Porres, to listen to our prayers.
Renew, we beg you, the miracles that through his intercession during his life you performed, and grant us the grace that we ask if it is for the good of our soul. So be it.
PRAYER TO ASK FOR A FAVOR
In this need and sorrow that overwhelms me, I come to you, my protector Saint Martin de Porres.
I want to feel your powerful intercession. You, who lived only for God and for your brothers, who were so helpful in helping those in need, listen to those of us who admire your virtues.
I trust in your powerful support so that, interceding before the God of goodness, my sins may be forgiven and I may see myself free from evil and misfortune.
Obtain for me your spirit of charity and service so that I may lovingly serve you dedicated to my brothers and to do good.
Heavenly Father, through the merits of your faithful servant Saint Martin, help me in my problems and do not allow my hope to be confused.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
NINTH
PRAYER FOR EVERY DAY
Oh merciful God, who gave us in Blessed Martin a perfect model of humility, mortification and charity; and without looking at his condition, but at the fidelity with which he served you, you magnified him until you glorified him in your Kingdom, among the choirs of angels! Look at us compassionately and make us feel his powerful intercession.
And you, blessed Martin, who lived only for God and for your fellow men; you, who were always so diligent in helping those in need, mercifully attend to those who, admiring your virtues and recognizing your power, praise the Lord, who praised you so much. Make us feel the effects of your great charity, praying for us to the Lord, who so faithfully rewarded your merits with eternal glory. Amen.
Pray below the meditation and prayer of the corresponding day
FIRST DAY
ORIENTATION
When the child Martín was instructed in the first notions of his age, he also began to know God, who from then on became the reason and emblem of his behavior. He then placed himself under the teaching of a master who was a barber-surgeon, who at that time not only knew the art of the barbershop, but also that of curing the most common diseases… Martin foresaw the good he could do for his neighbors , and so he enjoyed such a joyful job of being able to be useful to his fellow men one day. Where it is seen, how Divine Providence was guiding his Servant, preparing him for the purposes for which he was destined.
Ask for the grace that is desired.
An Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be.
closing sentence
Oh happy Martin, who, happy in your condition as the son of a slave, allowed yourself to be guided by the hand of God already in your childhood; make us resign ourselves in everything to the designs of Providence! In imitation of you we willingly accept the will of the Lord and his designs for us. You teach us that if we are good to Him, He will be generous to us; here we want to serve you faithfully. Help us, kind Martin, and pray for us to your beloved Jesus, true God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
SECOND DAY
FAITH IN GOD
Fray Martín’s faith was so firm that he sighed asking God for the grace to die to defend it. For his part, he used the time he had left to teach the Christian doctrine to the Indians and Negroes in Lima; then he went to Limatambo, half a league away from the city, and to other neighboring farms, where he taught the humble workers and slaves, consoling them in their work and illnesses, and inspiring them with love for the Cross. He would have wanted to multiply himself, to bring the knowledge of God everywhere. The Lord granted him the very special grace, to act apparently at the same time in two places by virtue of which, we see him instructing and consoling the suffering blacks in Africa and other remote places.
Ask for the grace that is desired.
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