A SHORT LIFE OF SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES
Saint Martin de Porres was born in 1579, in Lima Peru, the son of a black/mulatto
freed slave and a Spanish nobleman. At first, because of the stigma of having dark skin in a culture dominated
by Spanish aristocrats, Martin's father did not acknowledge Martin and his sister, and deserted Martin's mother
leaving her to fend for herself and her children by bringing in laundry to her home in the slums of Lima.
But by the time Martin was 10 or 12, his father had a change of heart for the better. He began to support the children,
and aquired an apprenticeship for Martin as a barber/surgeon's assistant. Martin was overjoyed at this.
Having lived with discrimination of color and of lack of legal parentage all his life, he could have become bitter
and troublesome, but instead he was blessed by God with a gentle spirit, a heart's understanding of humility,
and a desire to serve God in prayer and charity, the positive fruits of this particular type of suffering. Martin
used his good fortune at his apprenticeship to further his opportunities to serve the suffering. Even this young,
in his teens, his landlady (from whom Martin had begged used candles) spied him through the keyhole in ecstatic prayer.
At around the age of 15 he was received into the Dominican friary as a tertiary and servant, apparently quietly taking on
the most menial of duties. After nine years of denying himself entrance into the order as a lay brother because
of his self-held unworthiness, he finally relented and was made and Coadjutor Brother, and promoted to Almoner. He
is recorded as having begged and received $2000 per day, an amount many say was miraculous in origin, which he used to feed
and care for the sick and poor of all races of Lima. He was also made head of the infirmary, caring for the sick of the
Dominican order.
Life was not all joy for Martin at the friary. He was often in "trouble" with his superiors for what they perceived
as overzealousness in his solicitude for the poor, hungry and sick. Hungry, dirty people in large numbers were
forever "roaming" the friary in search of Martin's care as well as his prayers, creating quite an inconvenience for the
other members of the community. When upbraided for allowing a filthy man covered by sores to lie on his bed, his famous
reply was, "Compassion, my dear Brother, 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."
The religious were also curious about Martin's gifts, and would sometimes play pranks on him to test him. But his
spiritual gifts were witnessed by many, including his superiors, and there were many who experienced first hand
his ability to pass through locked doors to care for the sick, to bilocate worldwide, and to heal with just a cup of water.
His love for creation did not end with man and woman, but was extended even to animals of home and field.
While this is not so remarkable today, it was greatly so at his time and in this culture, where animals were mainly left
to fend for themselves unless being a beast of burden needed for work. His started a shelter for cats and dogs
at his sister's home, where he fed and cared for them in sickness and injury. He is even legended to have made a deal
with the priory mice, warning them about the poison traps set for them and making a deal with them: if they left the priory,
he would feed them at the back door. Having a gift of communication and mastery over all animals, including the mice and
rats, they bought the deal, and left the priory, not to return. For these reasons, to exemplify his charity even to
the beasts who were lower than even the slaves, Saint Martin is most often pictured with mice, birds a cat and a dog.
Saint Martin died in 1629 on November 3 of fever, and was venerated immediately at his passing. He was known as the "Brother
of Charity" and the rich and poor mourned him and avidly sought relics of his habit. He was made Blessed by
Pope Gregory, and in 1962 was canonized by Pope John XIII.
CHAPLET PRAYER TO SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES
This chaplet of Saint Martin de Porres is taken from the Triduum Prayer to Saint Martin.
It consists of 9 small beads and two large beads, a centerpiece, an opening and closing prayer bead and
a Saint Martin de Porres medal. Click on the picture to see more.
Opening Prayer (pendant bead)
Most glorious Martin de Porres, whose burning charity embraced not only your
needy brethren, but also the very animals of the field, splendid example of charity, we hail you and invoke you!
From, that high throne which you occupy, deign to listen to the supplications of we that, by imitating thy virtues,
may live contented in that state in which God has placed us and carrying with strength and courage our cross,
we may follow in the footsteps of Our Blessed Redeemer and His most afflicted Mother, that at last we may reach
the Kingdom of Heaven through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
First Triplet
St. Martin, you always had sympathy for the poor and those who were suffering. I need your help and now
ask for it with great confidence in your goodness and power. Please remember me, as you adore God. Amen.
(Mention your petitions, followed by one Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Triplet Prayer.)
Triplet Prayer: Dear St. Martin, I turn to you in my sorrow and anxiety to seek your friendly protection.
Please intercede for me with our merciful Father in heaven so that I may be truly sorry for all my sins
and be freed from the evils that shackle me. Ask that I might have something of your spirit of love and
self-sacrifice, and so be at all times reconciled to God's holy will. Oh heavenly Father, in the name of
your Son and of His blessed Mother, and by the merits of your faithful servant Martin, help me
in my trouble and do not forsake me. Amen.
Second Triplet
St. Martin, we praise God for the manifestation of His love. The favors you received from God encourage us
now to seek your intercession and help. We ask you most humbly to befriend and assist us from your place in heaven;
but most of all, we beg you to commend us to our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Petitions, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Triplet Prayer.)
Triplet Prayer: Dear St. Martin, I turn to you in my sorrow and anxiety to seek your friendly protection.
Please intercede for me with our merciful Father in heaven so that I may be truly sorry for all my sins and
be freed from the evils that shackle me. Ask that I might have something of your spirit of love and self-sacrifice,
and so be at all times reconciled to God's holy will. Oh heavenly Father, in the name of your Son and of His
blessed Mother, and by the merits of your faithful servant Martin, help me in my trouble and do not forsake me. Amen.
Third Triplet
Brother Martin, when you were here on earth, you spent your life loving God and your neighbor. This we know from the
testimony of your own Dominican brethren. Now that you live in the presence of God in paradise, intercede for those
who stand so much in need of the healing help of God and beg the Divine Physician to give us health of the soul and body.
Amen.
(Petitions, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and Triplet Prayer.)
Triplet Prayer: Dear St. Martin, I turn to you in my sorrow and anxiety to seek your friendly protection.
Please intercede for me with our merciful Father in heaven so that I may be truly sorry for all my sins and be
freed from the evils that shackle me. Ask that I might have something of your spirit of love and self-sacrifice,
and so be at all times reconciled to God's holy will. Oh heavenly Father, in the name of your Son and of His blessed Mother,
and by the merits of your faithful servant Martin, help me in my trouble and do not forsake me. Amen.
Closing Prayer (pendant bead)
To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled
with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and
also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our families the precious
gifts of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of
unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual
benevolence in God men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.
Modern Icon of Saint Martin de Porres
by Br. Robert Lentz
THE LITANY OF SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES
Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us,
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Pray for us.
St. Martin, ever in the presence of God, Pray for us.
St. Martin, faithful servant of Christ, Pray for us.
St. Martin, lover of the Holy Eucharist, Pray for us.
St. Martin, devoted to our Blessed Mother, Pray for us.
St. Martin, spiritual patron of Americans, Pray for us.
St. Martin, raised from the depths to a heavenly mansion, Pray for us.
St. Martin, honored son of Saint Dominic, Pray for us.
St. Martin, lover of the Most Holy Rosary, Pray for us.
St. Martin, apostle of mercy, Pray for us.
St. Martin, winged minister of charity, Pray for us.
St. Martin, miraculously conveyed to far-distant lands, Pray for us.
St. Martin, freed from the barriers of time and space, Pray for us.
St. Martin, seeking the conversion of sinners, Pray for us.
St. Martin, protector of the tempted and repentant, Pray for us.
St. Martin, helper of souls in doubt and darkness, Pray for us.
St. Martin, compassionate to the sorrowful and afflicted, Pray for us.
St. Martin, consoler of the discouraged and unfortunate, Pray for us.
St. Martin, peacemaker in all discords, Pray for us.
St. Martin, touched by all suffering, Pray for us.
St. Martin, comforter of the sick and dying, Pray for us.
St. Martin, angel to hospitals and prisons, Pray for us.
St. Martin, worker of miraculous cures, Pray for us.
St. Martin, guardian of the homeless child, Pray for us.
St. Martin, humbly hiding God-given powers, Pray for us.
St. Martin, devoted to holy poverty, Pray for us.
St. Martin, model of obedience, Pray for us.
St. Martin, lover of heroic penance, Pray for us.
St. Martin, strong in self-denial, Pray for us.
St. Martin, performing menial tasks with holy ardor, Pray for us.
St. Martin, gifted with prophecy, Pray for us.
St. Martin, symbol of interracial brotherhood, Pray for us.
St. Martin, giver of care for even God's beasts, Pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, Saint Martin,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray: O God, the exalter of the humble, Who made Saint Martin,
Thy confessor, to enter the heavenly Kingdom, grant through his merits and intercession that
we may so follow the example of his humility on earth as to deserve to be exalted with him in Heaven,
through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
