Stained Glass Window from St. Dominic’s Church in Washington, D.C.
Photo: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

St. Martin de Porres, O.P.

Friar

Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru in 1579 of John, a Spanish nobleman, and Anna Velasquez, a freed slave. As a boy he studied medicine which later, as a member of the Order, he put to good use in helping the poor. Martin was received as a servant at the priory of the Holy Rosary in Lima where he was finally admitted to profession as a cooperator brother in 1603. In his life of prayer Martin was especially devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Passion of Our Lord. He was noted for his care of the poor and the sick. He died at Lima on November 3, 1639.

Today’s collect for the Feast of St. Martin de Porres:

O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres
by the path of humility to heavenly glory,
grant that we may so follow his radiant example in this life as to merit to be exalted with him in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A young Fr. McGlynn, O.P. sculpts “St. Martin de Porres.”