Homily: Feast of St. Martin de Porres

Feast of St. Martin de Porres (The Devil is in the Details)

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Nobody lived out that commandment quite like St. Martin de Porres. I shared in my All-Saints Day Homily that very few Bishops or religious superiors have ever been canonized saints. In contrast many brothers in religious orders and sisters have been. 

St. Martin de Porres was a biracial man. He lived in Lima, Peru in the 17^th century. He was born out of wedlock to a freed slave from Panama. His father was a Spanish knight. His father was disappointed he inherited his mother’s features so on his baptismal record it stated that his father was unknown. This was to be one of the many slights St. Martin endured in his life. He was illegitimate which would affect his whole future.

As a young man Martin trained to be a barber. This was a considerably different occupation then it is today. A barber would offer rudimentary medical treatment as well as cut hair. Martin wanted to enter a Dominican convent to be a religious, but at first was rejected. Finally, he was allowed to be a lay brother and he was involved in taking care of the poor and doing menial tasks around the monastery.

Martin was often the first person that people met when they came for help at the convent in which he lived. He would meet the destitute with kindness. He fed the hungry and offered medical attention to those who needed it. His confreres referred to him as the “father of charity.”

St. Martin is often pictured with a broom. This was meant to show his ability to see the sacred in even the most menial tasks. Often small, blessed brooms are given as gifts on his feast. People use them to sweep out corners. The belief is that the devil can hide in a corner. St. Martin will sweep the demons away.

St. Martin is known as the patron saint of race relations and social justice. We would do well to ask him to pray for us during these days when there is so much racial tension in our society.

Reflection Questions:

1. Often saints are not well educated or well off why is this so? Do I think menial tasks are a distraction from Holiness?
2. Do I bear some prejudice toward any group? Does anyone in my family have that tendency?

Dear Parishioners,

           We have received notice from the diocese that the next diaconate class is closing on January 15^th. Deacons can offer a very valuable ministry to the church. They are to be concerned for those in need and they are liturgical ministers. A deacon can baptize, they can marry people and they can preside at funerals where there is no Mass. They also have the faculty to preach.

          Deacons have been a very important part of the ministry at Sacred Heart since the permanent diaconate was restored after Vatican II. We have two men in training right now and would love to have someone join the next class.

          Age requirements are always a consideration. A deacon candidate cannot be over the age of 55 now. The training takes five years. If you know someone who is interested, have them contact me. Or if you would like to recommend a man to enter this ministry, email me or put their name on a piece of paper, place it in an envelope and drop it in the collection. If it seems like a viable candidate I will follow up from there.

          May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you.

          Fr. Mark