Recognized for his miracles and healing powers, an example of humility, devotion to God and dedication to helping those most in need. He was the first mulatto saint on the American continent and today many devotees raise their Prayer to Saint Martin de Porres.
San Martin de Porres
Patron Saint of African-Americans, dark-skinned people, barbers, stylists, innkeepers, hotel managers, mestizos, education and public health, Dominican cooperator brothers, pharmacists, nurses, interracial and social justice, the poor, the indigent and of the animals. He was the first mestizo canonized by the Catholic Church.
He was born in Lima, Peru, on December 9, 1579, the son of a white man, a Spanish knight of the order of Calatrava (military and religious order of the Kingdom of Castile), and a free Panamanian black woman. He was not recognized on the baptismal certificate by his father due to his skin color, which is why he appears on the document as "of unknown father."
He had a difficult childhood since he was despised in society for being a mulatto, however at the age of 12 he learned the trades of barber, dental assistant, natural medicine and nurse and over the years he became a surgeon.
His apprenticeship began in the house of the apothecary Mateo Pastor through the teachings of herbal medicine, which over the years helped Martín de Porres to become a well-known herbalist and healer of the sick, since the apothecaries performed minor cures and administered medications for common cases.
Due to this, at the age of 15 he asked to be admitted to the community of Dominican priests, in the convent of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lima, but due to his skin color, he was admitted as a "donate", that is to say a helpful to the community, who practiced the cleaning trade, for which she spent nine years, practicing the most humble trades.
Therefore, San Martín de Porres was a lay brother of the Dominican order, that is, a member of a religious order of the Catholic Church that dealt with manual labor and secular affairs in the monastery.
That is why he is known as the saint of humility, since he is remembered with the broom, a symbol of his humble service, since he had exemplary humility. So he is called the Saint of the broom since he considered that all work was sacred no matter how insignificant it was, being his broom next to the cross, the great companion throughout his life.
After being admitted as a religious brother in the community, he obtained the trade of hairdresser and nurse, beginning to do charity work. In fact, on some occasions the friars complained because they said that Martin wanted to turn the convent into a hospital, since he cared for any sick person and even went so far as to lie down in his bed those who were most seriously ill, when he had nowhere to receive them. .
He was so humble that on one occasion he offered to be sold as a slave to help overcome the economic situation that the convent was going through, but his superiors did not allow it.
He was a cooperator brother, that is, a preacher friar, so in 1603 he made his religious profession, cared for the poor for free with great care and stood out for the care he gave to the sick, since he loved them all, cured them and cared for them. equal without distinction of ethnic origin, indigenous, Spanish and black.
Due to this, he managed to unite the three cultures that coexisted in his time despite the conflicts that existed in the eighteenth century, overcoming differences, all this he achieved through his helpful personality and with simplicity. Therefore, he served all sectors of Lima society.
He taught Christian doctrine to blacks and Indians in the streets and nearby farms where he exercised his pastoral vocation. He had various devotions, but above all he believed in the Blessed Sacrament and in the Virgin Mary, especially the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint of the Dominican Order and protector of mulattoes.
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Due to this, he spent half the night praying on his knees to a large crucifix and to the image of the Virgin Mary that was in his convent, to whom he told his sorrows and difficulties. So when he prayed very devoutly he would get up in the air and not see or hear the people.
On one occasion, the archbishop became seriously ill, so he sent for Martín de Porres to be healed, to which San Martín commented "how does it occur to your excellence to invite a poor mulatto", but A few minutes later he placed his hand on the place where he was in great pain, he prayed to it with faith and the archbishop got better immediately.
Martín de Porres collected alms in staggering amounts and distributed everything he collected to the needy who came to request his help.
So, with the help of Viceroy Luis Jerónimo Fernández de Cabrera and several wealthy people from the city, he founded the asylum and School of Santa Cruz to gather and help all the homeless, orphans and poor to help them get out of their situation.
He had an austere lifestyle that included fasting and abstaining from meat, as he was a vegetarian and slept only two or three hours a day.
He is known for his gift of talking with animals and had a special gift with nature, one of those experiences was that on one occasion he told the mice that were inside the monastery that he would give them food once a day if he promised to stay outside. , so from that moment there were no more problems with rodents.
Humble and helpful, he liked to go unnoticed but his fame grew every day, since the highest personalities of the time sought him out for care, in fact many people when they became seriously ill, expressed "may the holy brother Martin come", and he never denied a favor to someone who could do it for him. One of the common phrases pronounced by Saint Martin de Porres, at the time of his healing act, was "I heal you, God saves you."
He had many extraordinary gifts, among which stand out bilocation (supernatural phenomenon in which a person can be in two different places at the same time), since on occasions he left the convent to attend to a sick person and when he returned he entered without having a key. the door, or that nobody opened it, so every time they asked him how he did it, he replied "I have my own ways of getting in and out".
Because of this, it was said that with the use of bilocation he would prescribe exactly what the patient needed to be cured, it would disappear and then the patient would miraculously recover by following the treatment to the letter.
It is also said that he was seen several times in Mexico, China, Japan, Africa and the Philippines, although he never left Lima, he also wanted to be a missionary but could, so perhaps that allowed him to mysteriously appear to comfort discouraged missionaries when they left. found in other countries.
He died on November 3, 1639, at the age of 60, after having been in the community for 45 years, while they prayed the creed to him and kissed a crucifix. The whole city came to his funeral and miracles began to be obtained in droves through his intercession. His remains are found in the basilica of Santo Domingo in Lima, Peru and his skull is preserved as a relic in the convent of Santo Domingo located in the historic center of said capital.
He was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII, where he was also declared the patron saint of social justice. The day that is commemorated in his honor is November 3, the day of his death.
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Gifts of Saint Martin de Porres
The main gifts of San Martín de Porres were his healing power, his clairvoyance and above all his wisdom, personality and values. It had the immense power of humility and service, as a reminder of the validity, example and greatness of small daily acts that can change the immediate environment.
Among his attributed miracles are those of levitation, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instant cures, and the ability to communicate with animals. Among his teachings are that of being humble, since he always cared about others before himself, because he saw the needs of others and not his own, always placing himself in the last place.
Therefore, he distinguished himself for his humility and spirit of service, values that today's society must consider important to achieve happiness and peace. That is why today many people are devoted to him and raise his prayer to the glorious Saint Martin de Porres.
Prayer to Saint Martin of Porres
Pray this prayer, so that Saint Martin de Porres protects you at all times.
Glorious Our Lord Jesus Christ, who mentioned “ask and you shall receive”,
We earnestly come and request that you listen to our prayers, on behalf of the intercession of San Martín de Porres.
We beg you to perform the restoration of the miracles that by their reconciliation
You did throughout his life, and grant us the grace that we ask of you if it is to be a good for our soul.
So be it.
Prayer to ask Saint Martin de Porres for a favor
Raise this prayer to Saint Martin de Porres, to request his help.
Oh Saint Martin de Porres, my guardian, in the face of this need and pain that anguishes me, I come to you.
I want to feel your energetic protection. To you, who lived only for God and for your neighbor, you who were so helpful in helping those who needed it most, listen to those of us who admire your strength and virtues.
I trust in your powerful shelter and protection so that you intervene before the God of generosity, that he forgive me my sins and free me from any evil.
Cover me with your charitable and helpful spirit so that in a loving way, I serve you delivered to my brothers and neighbor and do good.
Glorious and heavenly Father, by the virtues of your faithful servant Saint Martin, I ask you to help me in my difficulties and do not allow my hope to be confused.
I ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Prayer to Saint Martin De Porres to ask for humility
Keep your gift of humility at all times through this prayer to Saint Martin de Porres.
Oh beloved God, who gave us in your simple Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, example of all virtue, honesty and splendor, grant us the virtue of humility. There are moments that we have forgotten you because we only think of ourselves. We love you again when humility shows us our own nothingness and rejoices in our complete dependence on you.
You gave the world a memorable apostle of humility, Saint Martin de Porres. Guide us with his model and his example to strengthen with his mediation in our impulses to constitute our hearts to the humble Heart of your Crucified Son.
Oh Lord, rebuild in these days when pride and forgetfulness for you spread, the wonders you created through your humble servant, Saint Martin de Porres throughout his life.
We raise our prayers so that throughout the world Saint Martin is known along with his supreme value such as the virtue of humility.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for every day
Raise this prayer to Saint Martin de Porres every day.
Oh our merciful Lord God, who granted us in the Blessed Saint Martin de Porres, an example of humility, simplicity and charity; and not looking at his condition, but at the faithfulness with which he served, you magnified him until you glorified him in your kingdom, among the choirs of angels!
Make us compassionately feel your mighty intervention.
Your most blessed Martin, who dedicated your life to serve God Our Lord and your fellow men; You, who always helped those most in need, mercifully attend to those who, taking your virtues as an example and recognizing your immense power, we praise the Lord who exalted you so much. He provides us with the feeling of the effects of your immense charity, praying for us to the Lord, who faithfully rewarded your merits with the bestowal of eternal glory.
Amen.
prayer for animals
Pray the San Martín de Porres prayer with faith for the healing and protection of animals.
Our Lord God Almighty, who created all living things. Bless you.
You who created on the fifth and sixth day of creation the fish in the sea, the birds in the air and the animals on the earth.
Primordial inspiration for Saint Martin de Porres to consider all animals as part of his neighbor. We beg you and we come to you, so that you bless this animal.
We ask before you, that by the infinite power of your love, you allow (the animal) to live according to your will.
Blessed are you, Our Lord God Almighty, praised forever by all creatures and the beauty of your creation!
Amen
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Prayer to San Martín de Porres for the sick
Pray this miraculous prayer of Saint Martin de Porres for the sick
Glorious Saint Martin de Porres.
Guide of the humble, saint of great faith, to you that God granted extraordinary gifts, today I come before you in this need and pain that worries me.
Protect me and be my doctor, my intercessor, guide and teacher on the path of love for Our Lord Jesus.
You who always helped those most in need, for the love of God, so much so that God gave you the power to be in two different places at the same time, listen to those of us who admire your gifts and virtues, for the love of Christ.
I trust in you, so that through your union with God, you intercede before the Lord, that before kind souls like yours, forgive me my sins and free me from all evil.
May your charitable and helpful spirit reach me, so that in a loving way I serve you with dedication to do good for others. To discover, like you, the virtue of doing good to others, so that my own sorrows may be relieved.
May your great example of humility of having yourself last at all times, be a light and guide for me to never forget to be humble.
May your example of a man of faith, capable of healing, resuscitating and achieving so many prodigies, be a grace that fills my heart with infinite love for our Lord Christ, in moments of doubt.
Glorious heavenly father, for the merits you granted to your faithful servant Saint Martin, help me in times of difficulty and do not allow my hope to be confused.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who said "ask and you shall receive", I humbly ask you to listen to this plea through the intercession of the glorious Saint Martin de Porres.
I ask from love, that you grant me the grace that I request, if it represents a good for my soul. I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Prayer to protect the family
Ask with devotion through this prayer, protection for your family.
Saint Martin de Porres, to you we extend and lift through this prayer, filled with quiet confidence and devotion. Conscious of your charity to the whole society, without distinction of classes or levels, as well as of your sweetness and humility in your heart, today we offer our petitions.
Radiate and spill over our families, the precious gifts of your glorious intercession; showing men of all races and colors the path to union and justice; implores our Lord God Heavenly Father to grant the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual generosity in God, men may increase through faith the fruits of grace so that the reward of grace may be deserved. eternal life. Amen.
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