St Martin de Porres
Nov 3rd - Feast of St Martin de Porres Saint Martin de Porres (1579–1639) was the illegitimate son of Don Juan de Porres, a Spanish nobleman, and Ana Velásquez, a freed woman of African descent; who faced discrimination and rejection all his life - yet by taking on himself the sins of his age - slavery, scorn of indigenous people and the oppression of the poor - he was able to lead an exemplary life as a true disciple of Christ. From his very childhood, Martin loved God —the most tender Father of all— with a deep affection, expressing this love through simple, sincere gestures that could not fail to delight God Himself. Spanish colonial law barred individuals of mixed heritage from joining religious orders, so in 1594, Martin entered the Dominican Convent of the Holy Rosary in Lima as a " donado " —a volunteer servant- performing menial tasks like sweeping, laundry, and cooking. As a Dominican lay brother in colonial Peru renowned for his relentless care for t...