Grace and Space

St. Martin de Porres was born at Lima, Peru, in 1579. His father was a Spanish gentleman and his mother a colored freed-woman from Panama. At fifteen, he became a lay brother at the Dominican Friary at Lima and spent his whole life there as a barber, farm laborer, and infirmarian among other things. He was in charge of distributing the alms of his convent to the poor and became known throughout the city of Lima for his love and care for the needy.

Martin had a great desire to go off to some foreign mission and thus earn the palm of martyrdom. However, since this was not possible, he made a martyr out of his body, devoting himself to ceaseless and severe penances. In turn, God endowed him with many graces and wondrous gifts, such as, aerial flights and bi-location (this explains why his name is invoked by travelers in long distance flights or voyages in planes or ships).

St. Martin's love was all-embracing, shown equally to humans and to animals, including cats and dogs in the hospital and at his sister's house. He also possessed spiritual wisdom, demonstrated in his solving his sister's marriage problems, raising a dowry for his niece in just three day's time, and resolving theological problems for the learned of his Order and for bishops.

A close friend of St. Rose of Lima, this saintly man died on November 3, 1639 and was canonized on May 6, 1962. His feast day is November 3.

 Novena to St. Martin de Porres