Martin of Porres 		November 3
Monk, Peru
Martin was born in Lima, Peru, on 9 November 1579, the illegitimate son of a Spanish knight, John de Porres, and Anna, a coloured freewoman from Panama. His mother apprenticed him at the age of twelve to a barber-surgeon, but three years later he received the habit of the third order of the Dominicans. He was admitted to the friary in Lima, and was then invited to be professed as a Dominican lay brother on account of his extraordinary devotion to the poor.
As an almoner of the friary, Martin was entrusted with the daily distribution of material help to the poor, a task in which he showed both method and loving care. He used his medical training, such as it was, to care for the sick both outside and inside the friary. Martin cared deeply and unceasingly for the unfortunate, the sick, the poor, and those at the lowest levels of society, the African slaves. His care was extended to all without regard to race or colour. This is why he is regarded as the patron saint of interracial justice and harmony. He established an orphanage and a foundling hospital. At a period and in a culture not noted for its care of animals, Martin’s good nature extended to animals, not merely domestic animals but even vermin. Although he was a layman, many people sought his counsel, while his readiness to perform the most menial tasks earned him the nickname, “Brother Broom”.
Many visions and miracles are attributed to Martin. He spent a large part of his life seeking reconciliation within a multiracial and exploitive society. His spirituality was centred in a deep devotion to the holy eucharist. On his death in 1639 he was accounted a saint by popular acclaim, but he was not beatified until 1837. He was finally canonised in 1962.
For Liturgical Use
Martin of Porres lived all his life in Peru. He was born in 1579, the illegitimate son of a Spanish knight and a coloured woman. He became a Dominican lay brother. He is remembered for his outstanding work with the sick, the poor and with African slaves, as well as for his life-long efforts to reconcile and heal the differences in a multiracial society. Because of his willingness to perform the most menial tasks, he was nicknamed “Brother Broom”. He died in 1639.
Sentence
Those who were not my people I will call my people, and the one who was not beloved I will call “beloved”, says the Lord.	Romans 9:25 (adapted)
Collects
Everloving God,
you have made of one kindred all races of humanity;
we thank you for your servant Martin of Porres,
whom you emboldened by your Spirit
to strive passionately and patiently for justice and harmony;
may we, in our land and throughout the world,
have a like commitment to people of every race and colour,
that all may be one in Christ Jesus our Lord.

O wondrous God!
Only you could take Martin,
the simple mulatto lay brother from Peru,
and have him declared a saint,
patron of interracial justice and harmony.
Psalms	67	122
Readings
Isaiah 42:1-7		God will bring forth justice
Colossians 3:12-17		God’s chosen ones
Luke 13:18-30		From east and west, north and south
Post Communion Sentence
Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in truth and action.	1 John 3:18