Remembering St Martin de Porres

 Statue of St Martin de Porres - Photo Canva.com

 

Today’s first reading from his letter to the Philippians 2:5-11 is one of the greatest expressions of faith in Jesus Christ found in the New Testament. It focuses on the Greek concept of metanoia, which means “emptying”. Jesus emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave. He went further and accepted that most cruel form of execution, death on a cross. By this total “emptying”, this absolute sacrifice, God raised him on high and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that we are brought to our knees in professing the name of Jesus as Lord. This act of faith challenges each one of us to empty ourselves of all that holds us back from being able to offer ourselves and to give of our lives for the sake of the salvation of the world. Such a challenge reminds me of the extraordinary life of St Martin de Porres whom we remember today. He was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and Ana Velazquez, a freed slave of African and native descent. After his sister was born two years later, the father left them, and Martin grew up in poverty.

 

Despite these harsh circumstances, Martin’s mother managed to ensure he went to school. He also went on to become a pharmacist and a nurse. Martin wanted to become a monk. However, under Peruvian law at that time, descendants of African or Native descent could not become full members of religious orders. So, he offered – “emptied himself” - to become a “donado”, a volunteer in return for the privilege of wearing the habit of the Dominican order. As a lay brother, he spent his life working for the sick and the poor. When he was reprimanded by the prior for having let a poor native Peruvian stay in his room, he replied, “Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity.” He had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist. By the time he died on this day in 1639, he had won the esteem not only of the members of the Dominican Order but also many people beyond the monastery. When he was canonised, he was named as the patron saint of those of mixed race. His whole life was an act of “emptying”. He was an outcast who won the hearts of those around him by his total devotion to Christ, as lived out in a life of total service to even the poorest of the poor. Let us pray to St Martin de Porres that his example can help to stir our hearts to empty ourselves of those dimensions of our lives whereby we think only of ourselves and fail to give ourselves in service to others. What a difference this would make to our world.