St. Martin de Porres

"Compassion is preferable to cleanliness. Reflect that with a little soap I can easily clean my bed covers, but even with a torrent of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness toward the unfortunate would create."
- St. Martin de Porres (1579 - 1639)

Today is the feast day of St. Martin de Porres. Martin was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579. His father was a Spanish nobleman and his mother was a free black woman born in Panama. Martin grew up in poverty after his father abandoned his family, but years later his father came back and had him apprenticed to a barber-surgeon. At fifteen, Martin joined the Dominicans as a lay brother. He spent the rest of his life in Lima at the Dominican friary, and was endowed with many spiritual gifts (ex. bilocation and aerial flights). He was known especially for his great charity towards all creatures. He died in 1639, and was canonized in 1962 by John XXIII. 

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us!

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http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=306

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1188

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/st-martin-de-porres/