St Martin De Porres

St Martin De Porres was born in

Lima, Peru on December 9th in

1579.

Martin was the son to a Spanish gentlemen and

a freed slave from Panama, of African or

possibly Native American descent. 

At a young age, Martin's father abandoned him,

his mother and his younger sister, leaving

Martin to grow up in deep poverty. 

After spending just two years in primary school,

Martin was placed with a barber/surgeon

where he would learn to cut hair and the

medical arts.

St Martin had a love for animals and often

feed the rats outside of his work place

In January of 1639, when Martin was 60-years-old, he became very ill with chills, fevers and tremors causing him agonizing pain but continued with his prayer life and ministry when his health would allow. He would experience almost a year full of illness until he passed away on November 3, 1639.By the time he died, he was widely known and accepted. Talks of his miracles in medicine and caring for the sick were everywhere. After his death, the miracles were accepted by all and when he was exhumed 25 years later, his body exhaled a splendid fragrance and he was still intact.