Martin de Porres

Prologue:
Martin de Porres was born to unmarried parents in Lima, Peru, in 1579. His father was a Spanish knight, his mother, a freed woman from Panama. After a daughter was born, the father deserted the family and left them penniless.

At the age of 12, Martin began to study with a Lima barber. Barbers were the doctors and surgeons of the time. Most people felt that illness was a disease of the blood. So when someone was sick, the barber drew blood from the person. From this barber, Martin learned how to cut hair, draw blood, prepare herbal remedies, and care for wounds.

In 1594, at the age of 15, Martin offered himself as a servant to the Dominicans in Lima. It is now 1603. Lee has gone to Convento Santo Domingo to meet Martin. He has heard many stories about Martin and is eager to meet the man who inspired them. Lee is with Martin as he picks herbs in the garden.

Lee: Brother Martin, which herbs do what?

Martin: This one I'm picking now is chamomile. It's a tonic for people feeling depressed. This one here helps headaches. I mix this one with oil and use it as a salve on wounds. Others get rid of a fever.

Lee: Everyone thinks you do great things with these herbs for people here in Lima.

Martin: Thanks for saying that, but all I am is an old broom. I ask everyone to call me Brother Broom. I'm pretty worthless.

Lee: I won't argue with you, Brother Martin, but brooms have their place in every kitchen! From what I hear, God sweeps cobwebs out of peoples' hearts with his Brother Broom!

Martin: Somehow God does work great things through his Brother Broom. People give me more money and food and clothing than they had planned! They decide to do good for others. It's a miracle of goodness every day! And God encourages me to share this goodness with others!

Lee: With the black slaves and the natives?

Martin: No, with anyone who needs help. Sometimes white people need help too. Even rich people need help. Their hearts are lonely or sad or confused.

Lee: You help both the rich and the poor?

Martin: God helps. I am merely the broom he uses!

Lee: Brother Timothy told me that you did not think you were worthy to be a lay brother. For nine years you were only a servant, a sort of slave.

Martin: And that's how I wanted it! But the brothers here insisted that I become fully professed as a Dominican.

Lee: Someone told me that the Dominicans had a rule that they would not let any black person be professed as a lay brother.

Martin: That's true, but they changed the rule and asked me to become the first black lay brother. So I professed vows. My example may lead them to accept other people of color.

Lee: Brother Anthony told me that you offered to let the convent sell you.

Martin: True. I am just a mulatto, the son of a Spanish knight and a black mother. When the convent had a money problem, I said, "Sell me! I am your property! Sell me!"

Lee: I'm glad they didn't.

Martin: To tell you the truth, I am too!

Lee: Everywhere I go here in Lima, I hear stories about you. Poor people tell me about the fig orchard you planted on the hillside so that they would always have free food. Brother Augustine tells me that you let dirty people with oozing sores sleep in your bed.

Martin: Both stories are true. Someone gave me the land. Someone gave me the money for the trees. I planted them. God gave the growth. That's a pretty simple story.

Lee: What about sick and dirty people sleeping in your bed? I bet your convent superiors don't like that much!

Martin: In the beginning, they didn't.

Lee: How did you change their minds?

Martin: I told them that I could wash the sheets with a little soap and water, but that I'd need a flood of tears to wash myself clean of the sin of being unkind to one in need.

Lee: You have a way with words, Brother Martin!

Martin: The Holy Spirit takes care of that.

Lee: Now that we've collected all these herbs, what's your next job for the day?

Martin: I've got to decide what to do about all the stray dogs and cats in Lima.

Lee: Why's that your job?

Martin: Someone must care for God's creatures.

Lee: That reminds me of another story I heard about you. A baker's wife told me that rats invaded the convent and that the superior told you to put out rat poisoning.

Martin: The rats were hungry!

Lee: What I hear is that you obeyed your superior, but then you came out into this garden and called a meeting of the rats. They all gathered around you and you told them about the poison and scolded them for their bad habits. The baker's wife said that you told the rats you would feed them each day in the garden. After that, she said, the rats left the convent alone. Is that true?

Martin: Well, we no longer have a rat problem in the convent. That's all I'll say about that!

Lee: Are we going to feed the rats while we're out here?

Martin: I did that this morning!

Lee: You remind me of Saint Francis of Assisi. He loved animals too.

Martin: They are our brothers and sisters.

Lee: What are you going to do about the stray cats and dogs?

Martin: I don't know. My superiors say that I can't bring them here. It's enough that I bring the poor and the lame and the lonely.

Lee: I know that you founded an orphanage for abandoned children. How about a hospital for sick cats and dogs?

Martin: Who would give me a place for them?

Lee: Do you know anyone who loves animals as much as you do?

Martin: My sister.

Lee: Would she be willing to help?

Martin: You know, I think she would. I think she would take them. I would use my herbs to heal them and then find them homes.

Lee: Just as you do for the poor people of Lima.

Martin: For all God's beautiful creatures.

Lee: May I go with you to your sister's?

Martin: Yes! Let's go now. It's never too soon to help others!

Epilogue

Martin de Porres and his sister did set up a home for animals in her house. Throughout the city, the rich and poor marveled at his goodness. His own convent called him the "Father of Charity."

Many legends grew up around Martin. Peruvian merchants who had traveled to Japan and Mexico reported that they had seen Martin in these places. However, he never left Lima from the time of his birth to his death. The Church calls this bilocation. Many believe that God enabled Martin to be in two locations at once, helping the poor in both places.

Martin died of quatrain fever at the convent on November 3, 1639. On May 5, 1962, Pope John XXIII canonized him. The pope said that Martin "excused the faults of others . . . [and] forgave the bitterest injuries." The pope said that Martin was truly a man of charity who walked "in Christ's footsteps."