Who was Martin de Porres? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Martín de Porres Velázquez, St. Martín de Porres

Died At Age: 59

Family:

father: Don Juan de Porres

mother: Ana Velázquez

siblings: Juana de Porres

Born Country: Peru

Saints Peruvian Men

Died on: November 3, 1639

place of death: Lima, Peru

City: Lima, Peru

Recommended For You

1

What were Martin de Porres' notable contributions to society?

Martin de Porres was known for his exceptional dedication to helping the poor and sick, founding a shelter for abandoned children, and caring for slaves. He also had a reputation for performing miracles and acts of healing.
2

How did Martin de Porres become a symbol of racial harmony?

Martin de Porres, a mixed-race individual himself, advocated for racial equality and harmony. He welcomed people from all backgrounds into his care facilities and treated everyone with kindness and compassion, regardless of their race or social status.
3

What virtues did Martin de Porres exemplify in his life?

Martin de Porres was admired for his humility, selflessness, and unwavering faith. He lived a life of service to others, showing compassion, forgiveness, and love to all he encountered.
4

What religious order did Martin de Porres belong to?

Martin de Porres was a lay brother in the Dominican Order, where he dedicated his life to prayer, serving the community, and caring for the sick and needy.
5

How is Martin de Porres remembered today?

Martin de Porres is remembered as a symbol of compassion, social justice, and intercultural harmony. He is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church and continues to inspire people around the world to follow his example of selfless service and love for all.

Childhood & Early Life

Juan Martin de Porres Velázquez was born on 9 December 1579 in Lima, the capital city of the Viceroyalty of Peru, out of a liaison between a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave of African-Native-American descent. His parents, Don Juan de Porres and Ana Velázquez, never got married.

Born elder of his parents’ two children, he had a younger sister called Juana de Porres. Because he was born with African features, his father refused to acknowledge him at his birth. As a result, his baptizing certificate did not bear his father’s name; but read “father unknown”.

It is believed that when he was eight years old, his father had a change of heart and recognized him as his son, sending him to school for two years. But after the birth of his sister, his father finally abandoned the family.

Life after his father left them was not easy. They were not only poor, belonging to the lowest rung of the Spanish colonial society, but Porres also had to bear the double stigma of his illegitimate birth and mixed racial heritage.

A deeply religious child from the very beginning, he spent a lot of his time praying. He also had a compassionate nature and often gave away groceries that his mother had sent him to buy from the market to the beggars, homeless and orphans, whom he considered more unfortunate than he was.

When he was twelve years old, his mother put him under a barber-surgeon. Working under him, Porres learned the art of administering herbal remedies, dressing wounds, and drawing blood etc. Also from this time, he started spending the nights in praying, eventually deciding to devote himself to religious life.

At that time, Peruvian laws did not allow people of Indian or African ancestry to become a monk. Therefore, the only way out for him was to volunteer as a donado, a lay helper who lived in the monastery and performed all kinds of menial task.

Continue Reading Below

Embarking on Religious Life

Around 1593-94, Martin de Porres entered the Convent of the Rosary (also known as Dominicans of Holy Rosary Priory), located in Lima. He was initially entrusted with various menial tasks such as cooking, cleaning and laundry. Alongside, he also served in the infirmary, dressing wounds, and drawing blood etc.

Concurrently with serving as a donado, he continued to pray intensely and as an act of austerity refrained from eating meat. He also wore the same robes until they fell apart and refused to sleep on the bed because that would amount “unmerited gratification”.

In spite of leading such holy life, he continued to face racial harassment. Once some monks hid the kitchen potholders while he was cooking, forcing him lift the pots with bare hands. To the dismay of the onlookers, his hands remained as they were, without any sign of scorching.

Another time, while he was cleaning the toilet, a monk asked him if he would like to become the Archbishop of Mexico. He answered saying, "I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners" (biblical Psalm 83).

As time passed, he was promoted to the post of almoner, somebody in charge of distributing money. In this capacity, he would go out of the monastery to collect donations and then distribute the same among the poor and needy.

Sometime towards the beginning of the seventeenth century, the prior Juan de Lorenzana decided to allow Porres to take his vows as a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. However, the decision was not accepted by many, who continued to harass and insult him.

Taking Religious Vows

Around 1603-04, Porres became a Dominican oblate, or lay monastic and in 1610 a Dominican lay brother, when he was given his religious habit. However, the elevation had little impact on him and he remained as humble as before.

Once his priory was in debt and it became hard to repay. He then offered a unique solution, saying, “I am only a poor mulatto (person of mixed race). Sell me. I am the property of the order. Sell me.” Fortunately, the prior did not listen to him.

Continuing to serve with all humbleness, he soon became a great fundraiser, collecting huge amount of money, both for the priory and the city, serving humanity irrespective of their color, creed, status and race. He built orphanages and schools for children and served the slaves and poor with compassion.

Continue Reading Below

He was also the head of the infirmary. When an epidemic struck Lima, he not only served the sick friars personally, but also opened the doors to the general public. When the provincial supervisor objected to it, he transferred them to his sister’s home, where he continued to serve them.

Along with carrying out such intense activities, he also led a highly spiritual life, praying with devotion throughout the night, very often fasting for extended period on bread and water. Equally compassionate to animals, he fed and healed all the creatures that came into his vicinity.

Once the monastery was infested with mice. Because they destroyed their habits, the monks decided to lay traps. Distressed by this, Martin is believed to have talked to the rodents, promising to feed them every day if they stayed away. From that day, the monastery became free of rodents.

Death & Legacy

Martin de Porres died on 3 November 1639. By then, he had won every body’s love and respect, as a result of which people came in hundreds to show their last respect. Later, his body was interred in the grounds of the monastery.

He was beatified on 29 October 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized on 6 May 1962 by Pope John XXIII. His feast day falls on 3 November. Today, he is considered the patron saint of people of mixed race, and of innkeepers, barbers, public health workers etc.

The Chapel of St. Martin de Porres, located inside the Basilica of Santo Domingo and built over his cell, holds not only his remains, but also an urn containing the timber of his bed. Several churches, schools and edifices across the globe have also been named after him.

Facts About Martin de Porres

Martin de Porres had a special connection with animals and was known to communicate with them in a unique way, often being seen surrounded by various creatures in his presence.

Despite facing discrimination and prejudice as a mixed-race individual in colonial Peru, Martin de Porres remained steadfast in his faith and dedication to serving others, showing immense compassion and humility.

Martin de Porres was renowned for his miraculous healing abilities, with many people seeking his aid for various ailments and illnesses, leading to his eventual recognition as the patron saint of mixed-race people and social justice.

In addition to his work as a healer, Martin de Porres was also skilled in herbal medicine and would often create remedies using plants and natural ingredients to help those in need, showcasing his knowledge and resourcefulness.

Martin de Porres had a deep connection to the poor and marginalized in society, dedicating his life to helping them in any way he could, whether through providing food and shelter or offering spiritual guidance and support.

Martin de Porres Biography

You wanted to know

What were Martin de Porres' notable contributions to society?

How did Martin de Porres become a symbol of racial harmony?

What virtues did Martin de Porres exemplify in his life?

What religious order did Martin de Porres belong to?

How is Martin de Porres remembered today?