Homily Feast of St. Martin de Porres
Homily Feast of St. Martin de Porres
There are a lot of fascinating saints whose feast days fall in November. The first is St. Martin de Porres. St. Martin is a saint of the Americas. He is a saint for our times.
Martin was born in 1579 in Lima Peru. His father was a Spanish nobleman, and his mother was a freed slave. His father deserted his family and Martin grew up in poverty. His mother took in laundry to support the family, but she could not make enough money to feed her children. Martin was placed in the care of a barber who offered him training in the trade.
Martin, as a biracial young man, had limited opportunities. He was attracted to religious life, but knew, by law, he could not be admitted to a religious order. He asked to live at the local Dominican convent. There was a provision in the law that said that a man could live with the Dominicans and do menial tasks. Such a person could wear the Dominican habit and join in the prayers of the community as they did their work, but could never profess vows.
St. Martin exercised his barber trade at the convent that had hundreds of men. Barbers, at that time, not only cut hair but they did basic medical care. Martin severed his brothers in this capacity. He was known for his compassion and his great holiness. He was gradually allowed into the community because the prior ignored the law.
Not all of Martin’s fellow Dominicans were pleased to have a black man in their midst. Many openly insulted him and made his life difficult but Martin continued humbly serve. When a plague struck the convent the infected were isolated and locked away in part of the house. Martin is said to have passed through the locked doors to nurse the sick. He was known for several healing miracles and he had mystical experiences.
As we reflect on the racial tension in our society and the pandemic that is rocking our lives, we ask St. Martin de Porres to pray for us. In Peru there are little brooms that are sold as a symbol of St. Martin. People hang the brooms in their houses and ask that St. Martin will sweep the evil out of their homes. We ask St. Martin to sweep away the evil that is infecting our society.
Reflection Questions:
- Am I surprised that St. Martin de Porres was a black man? Is it a shock that he faced such racial prejudice from is brothers? What does this tell me about the church?
- St. Martin faced a plague in his life. Did he react with despair or with resolve? Am I showing such resolve right now?
Dear Parishioners:
This is the final day of the Novena we have been praying before the election. The American Bishops have been asking for our prayers. On day nine we pray One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be. We follow that with the following prayer:
Today as we approach the polls, may we understand and embrace the principles of our Faith that should guide our political engagement.
Pray to more deeply understand and embrace God thus: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints pray for us.
Fr. Mark