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Cross and Crown #26
St. Martin De Porres: Apostle of Charity
The sons of St. Dominic were the first to preach the Gospel in the land of the Incas. They had shared the perils of the Peruvian adventure with Pizarro in the same boat in which he and his men sailed south through the Pacific. Missionaries of many other orders followed Franciscans, Augustinians, Mercedarians, Jesuits. But divine Providence reserved for the first missionary workers the finest fruits of the seed of the Gospel sown between the seacoast and the forbidding heights of the Andes.
Born shortly after the founding of Lima, Martin entered the Dominican Order early in life. There he spent the remainder of his 60 years in complete dedication to his order and the cause of the poor, sick and neglected of Lima while growing to the highest levels of sanctity and humility. The appeal of St. Martin de Porres is universal. Called an apostle of charity, patron of social justice, father of the sick and poor, and helper in hopeless cases, he is a powerful intercessor to those in need.
The close friend of St. Rose of Lima; he became a Dominican lay brother at 15 and spent his life (died at 61) helping those in need. Many great anecdotes telling how he raised the dead; multiplied food; cured the sick; healed wounded animals; visited those in need through bilocation; did extreme penance and gained the name of Apostle of Charity; patron of social justice; father of the sick and poor and helper in hopeless cases.
ST MARTIN DE APOSTLE OF CHARITY was written in 1957 at the request of the Postulation of the Dominican Order at Santa Sabina, Rome. Following the canonization of St. Martin in 1963, the author added new material especially for the English translation to make it as definitive as possible. The efforts of Giuliana Cavallini met with such praise and satisfaction that Most Reverend Aniceto Fernandez, O.P. selected this book as an official biography of St. Martin de Porres.
Born shortly after the founding of Lima, Martin entered the Dominican Order early in life. There he spent the remainder of his 60 years in complete dedication to his order and the cause of the poor, sick and neglected of Lima while growing to the highest levels of sanctity and humility. The appeal of St. Martin de Porres is universal. Called an apostle of charity, patron of social justice, father of the sick and poor, and helper in hopeless cases, he is a powerful intercessor to those in need.
The close friend of St. Rose of Lima; he became a Dominican lay brother at 15 and spent his life (died at 61) helping those in need. Many great anecdotes telling how he raised the dead; multiplied food; cured the sick; healed wounded animals; visited those in need through bilocation; did extreme penance and gained the name of Apostle of Charity; patron of social justice; father of the sick and poor and helper in hopeless cases.
ST MARTIN DE APOSTLE OF CHARITY was written in 1957 at the request of the Postulation of the Dominican Order at Santa Sabina, Rome. Following the canonization of St. Martin in 1963, the author added new material especially for the English translation to make it as definitive as possible. The efforts of Giuliana Cavallini met with such praise and satisfaction that Most Reverend Aniceto Fernandez, O.P. selected this book as an official biography of St. Martin de Porres.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1942
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2019
A good biography of a saint who lived in Lima, Peru, all his life (except for his miracle distance-travels to places like China, Turkey, and France). He was a laybrother in the Dominican Order for 60 years, his father a Spaniard Gentleman, his mother a freed black slave. It took 332 years to his canonization, but he earned it very well, as the story here shows. This Italian biography was written in 1957, with stuff added after his canonisation. Not the first one (that was in 1647, in Valencia); the first all-English biography was in 1889. The time of the book's writing shows in the use of the word "Negro", though the writer is well for rights for not-white people that was on the rise at the time.
So, Martin started his work life as a barber at the age of 12, which then included also some work like stitching wounds, medical care etc. He continued this work in the monastery as he joined the Order at 15-16, choosing intentionally to be the lowest rung in the order, a lay helper (others jobs included sweeping, cleaning toilets...) His workload increased over years as people were attracted to his presence, and his good work. He not only did those jobs above, but also gave good advice, gathered money for chairty, took care of the patients at the infirmary (which also included animals that came by themselves there), and even helped in things like planting young olive trees.
His mortifications, though, are pretty much something I wouldn't choose to imitate; that was just him. Every night triple whipping his back, the hairshirt, the sackcloth, the heave chain on his waist. His eating habits, fasting pretty much every day except for feast days, when it was small meals. And sleeping very little, mostly naps here and there through the day.
Of course there were also the things only saints seems to do: levitation, glowing, really good hiding skills, seeing and fighting demons, cures (even after death), surprising levels of knowledge of the faith, 'traveling' to distant places (like the ones mentioned above), exceptional sickness knowledge (and also of when someone, including himself, was going to die), predictions, animals understanding him so well - see the case with the mice, going through locked doors, multiplying meals and funds, ecstasies.
But really, some things are still good to imitate, like his humility, his praying, his patience, his peace of mind and inner control, his hard work for people and animals that needed it. It was also interesting to read of his connection with another saint, St Rose Of Lima, who lived and died during his lifetime. Due to her influence, the work of his canonization advanced better.
It may have taken over 300 years (partly a little because of two ships sinking during it, which slowed the process down due to some important papers being lost in the sinkings), but when you read the final scenes of his canonisation happening at the Vatican, you too might feel joyful picturing the scene. The biography may feel like a typical, but good, saint biography, written in a not too flowery language, but you end up feeling the saint has really earned his canoisation. Well worth it.
So, Martin started his work life as a barber at the age of 12, which then included also some work like stitching wounds, medical care etc. He continued this work in the monastery as he joined the Order at 15-16, choosing intentionally to be the lowest rung in the order, a lay helper (others jobs included sweeping, cleaning toilets...) His workload increased over years as people were attracted to his presence, and his good work. He not only did those jobs above, but also gave good advice, gathered money for chairty, took care of the patients at the infirmary (which also included animals that came by themselves there), and even helped in things like planting young olive trees.
His mortifications, though, are pretty much something I wouldn't choose to imitate; that was just him. Every night triple whipping his back, the hairshirt, the sackcloth, the heave chain on his waist. His eating habits, fasting pretty much every day except for feast days, when it was small meals. And sleeping very little, mostly naps here and there through the day.
Of course there were also the things only saints seems to do: levitation, glowing, really good hiding skills, seeing and fighting demons, cures (even after death), surprising levels of knowledge of the faith, 'traveling' to distant places (like the ones mentioned above), exceptional sickness knowledge (and also of when someone, including himself, was going to die), predictions, animals understanding him so well - see the case with the mice, going through locked doors, multiplying meals and funds, ecstasies.
But really, some things are still good to imitate, like his humility, his praying, his patience, his peace of mind and inner control, his hard work for people and animals that needed it. It was also interesting to read of his connection with another saint, St Rose Of Lima, who lived and died during his lifetime. Due to her influence, the work of his canonization advanced better.
It may have taken over 300 years (partly a little because of two ships sinking during it, which slowed the process down due to some important papers being lost in the sinkings), but when you read the final scenes of his canonisation happening at the Vatican, you too might feel joyful picturing the scene. The biography may feel like a typical, but good, saint biography, written in a not too flowery language, but you end up feeling the saint has really earned his canoisation. Well worth it.
November 10, 2021
St. Martin was an icon of Christ, living the Gospel to such an extreme that anyone who knows about it is encouraged to believe that Jesus really meant what he said. There are many accounts of miracles, but these serve to highlight Brother Martin’s virtues, all of which can be imitated by God’s grace.
October 4, 2018
Amazing and life changing book. St. Martin de Porres life will inspire the reader as they delve into the life of a humble monk who constantly sacrificed for the poor and helpless of his surroundings. St. Martin modeled Christ's command to "love one another" with brotherly love. St. Martin experienced the hardship of being judged and mistreated because he was part African and part Spanish. In the 1600s in Peru, this was reason to look down on him. But St. Martin was never fazed by this. His kindness remained unchanged regardless of how people treated him. In doing so, the people who were rude and harsh to him, sooner or later repented and turned to being loving individuals who followed Martin's example.
The reader must keep in mind this book was published in Rome in 1957, and later translated to English in 1963. There is some outdated terminology used in the book. However, his life story is still amazing and I would definitely recommend this book.
The reader must keep in mind this book was published in Rome in 1957, and later translated to English in 1963. There is some outdated terminology used in the book. However, his life story is still amazing and I would definitely recommend this book.
March 12, 2018
A very well done biography spanning not only the entire life of this mixed-race miracle-worker but also his long road to canonization. Edifying in his faith and humility, Martin is an exemplar for all ages on how to be Christ to others and how to see Christ in everyone we encounter.
The author relies heavily on the testimony of Martin's contemporaries who were interviewed as his cause was advanced; thus, fantastic as some of his works and miracles were described, there is an air of authenticity to it all. Portrayed is a man who was truly and wholeheartedly in love with God and completely giving of himself to the people of God from an early age.
No wonder he is so greatly loved throughout the world, but especially by his fellow Peruvians, Latin Americans, and minorities.
St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.
The author relies heavily on the testimony of Martin's contemporaries who were interviewed as his cause was advanced; thus, fantastic as some of his works and miracles were described, there is an air of authenticity to it all. Portrayed is a man who was truly and wholeheartedly in love with God and completely giving of himself to the people of God from an early age.
No wonder he is so greatly loved throughout the world, but especially by his fellow Peruvians, Latin Americans, and minorities.
St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.
February 7, 2023
Martin is one of my new heavenly BFFs. What an amazing human - cannot wait to chat with him in prayer. Beautiful story of his life and presentation of his virtues.
September 7, 2024
5 stars for St Martin De Porres, 3 stars for the author.
September 12, 2021
One of the best books I've ever read. An amazing faith.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews