November 3: Saint Martin de Porres / San Martín de Porres

The words and the example of Jesus tell us clearly that true love is gratuitous (freely given), it awaits nothing in return, and it is open to those living in poverty, the marginalized, and the excluded. It is one thing to say we want to love in such a way, and yet such love is supremely difficult to share with others, especially each day and in each situation of our lives. But, as the old saying goes, “Jesus never said that following Him would be easy – just necessary.”

Today marks the feastday of St. Martin de Porres. He was born in Lima, Peru, of Spanish and black parentage. Inheriting his mother’s dark color, at times he was looked down upon by his aristocratic father, and, in early childhood, he was badly neglected. An intelligent boy, he was befriended by a doctor who taught him the art of healing.
 St. Martin began developing his prayer life at an early age. He had a deep devotion to Jesus’ Passion and continually prayed to know what he could do in gratitude for the immense blessings he had received. Deciding upon the Religious life, he applied to the Dominican Convent of the Holy Rosary and was accepted as a servant. He gave himself to the lowliest duties in the house, and, finally, after many years, he was commanded by his superiors to accept the habit of a lay brother – he had considered that this was too great an honor for himself.

For more on St. Martin de Porres: https://dominicanfriars.org/st-martin-de-porres/

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Las palabras y el ejemplo vivo de Jesús nos dicen claramente que el verdadero amor es gratuito, sin esperar nada a cambio, y abierto a los pobres, marginados, y excluidos. Es bonito decirlo, pero difícil hacerlo.

La Iglesia celebra hoy el día festivo de San Martín de Porres. El nació en la ciudad de Lima, Perú, en el año 1579. Fue hijo de Juan de Porres, caballero español y de Ana Velásquez, negra libre panameña. Fue canonizado por el Papa Juan XXIII en 1962. Recordaba el Papa, en la homilía de la canonización, las devociones en que se había distinguido San Martín: su profunda humildad que le hacía considerar a todos superiores a él, su celo apostólico, y sus continuos desvelos por atender a enfermos y necesitados, lo que le valió, por parte de todo el pueblo, el hermoso apelativo de “Martín de la caridad.”

Para leer más: https://www.dominicos.org/quienes-somos/grandes-figuras/san-martin-de-porres/