On May 16, 1962, Pope John XXIII named Martin de Porres the first black American Saint. Martin was born on December 9, 1579, in Lima Peru, the illegitimate son of Don Juan de Porres of Burgos, a Spanish nobleman, and Ana Velasquez, a young freed Negro Slave girl who had come to Peru from Panama.

Rejected by his father, reputedly because of how dark Martin's skin was, Martin and his sister were raised by their mother. From the time he was a child, Martin showed great piety, a deep love for all God's creatures and a passionate devotion to Our Lady. He served as an apprentice to a barber-surgeon, learning to treat the sick, set bones, cure fevers. He showed that he had, not only a talent for this, but the compassion to be a great healer. His father, hearing of the good his son was doing, showed an interest in him briefly, and took him to Spain for an education. However, when the work in the Government called he lost interest in his son again.

Martin returned to Peru, and sought the job as a servant in the Dominican priory. In those days, the position of priest or brother was not available to Martin because of his race. He performed the work with such devotion that he was called "the Saint of the broom." When his father heard that his son was working as a servant he was humiliated, and interceded with the priory to allow Martin to be made a lay brother. Even after he was invited to do so, Martin needed to be commanded to accept the position of lay brother, because he felt he was unworthy.

Dominicans are called mendicant friars, because they beg for their living. Martin was soon promoted to the job of almoner (the person responsible for distributing alms to the poor) and soon was begging more than $2,000 a week from the rich. All that was begged was given to the poor and sick of Lima in the form of food, clothing or medicine.

Martin was also placed in charge of the Dominican's infirmary where he became known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures. As a Dominican brother, he became more devout and more desirous to be of service. He established an orphanage and a children's hospital for the poor children of the slums. He even set up a shelter, at his sister's home, for the stray cats and dogs and nursed them back to health.

Martin had always wanted to be a missionary, and although he never left Peru he was a missionary to the people he served, but in addition to this service, even in his own lifetime, he was seen as far away as Africa, and China. One African slave who had been in irons said he had known Martin who came to relieve and console many like himself, telling them of heaven. When later the same slave saw Martin in Peru, he was very happy to meet him again and asked him if he had had a good voyage; only later did he learn that Saint Martin had never left Lima. A merchant from Lima was in Mexico and fell ill; he had said aloud: "Oh, Brother Martin, if only you were here to care for me..!" and immediately saw him enter his room. Once again, it wasn't till some time later that this man learned that Martin had never been in Mexico.

Martin lived a life of self-imposed austerity. He never ate, meat, he fasted continuously and spent much time in prayer and dedication. He was venerated from the day of his death.

Many miraculous cures including the raising of the dead were attributed to Brother Martin. Today, throughout South America, Central America and the islands of the Caribbean, people tell of the miraculous powers of St. Martin de Porres.

Saint Martin de Porres
by Father Lovasik, SVD
$1.49

This best-selling Series has been used and appreciated by thousands of children. They have been captivated by page after page of original four-color illustrations and clear typographical layout. At the same time, their young minds have grasped the teachings set forth in simple reverent language. May your children also experience this same enjoyment and knowledge.

Saint Martin de Porres: Apostle of Charity
by Giuliana Cavallini
$12.95

The appeal of Saint Martin de Porres is universal. Called an apostle of charity, patron of social justice, father of the sick and poor, and helper in hopeless cases, he is a powerful intercessor to those in need.

The present biography was originally written at the request of the Postulation of the Dominican Order at Santa Sabina in Rome in 1957. Immediately after the canonization of St. Martin de Porres in 1963, the author incorporated new material into the biography, precisely in preparation for the English version. The Postulator General of the Dominican Order, Very Reverend Father Piccari, O.P., then wrote an official commendation of the English version of the biography and testified to its authenticity and status as an official biography of St. Martin de Porres.

Additionally the Holy Childhood Association offers a elementary lesson plan, for younger and older students, on the life of Martin de Porres.