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| St. Martin de Porres History |
St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru on December 9,1579. His father was a Spanish Knight, John de Porres and governor of Panama and his mother a poor black Indian woman from Panama, Anna Velasquez. For years, he shared his mother’s poverty. His father provided for his education and he became a skilled pharmacist, doctor and surgeon. He started to work for the poor of his city. At fifteen, he became a lay brother at the Dominican Friary at Lima. His community impressed with his life of prayer and service, asked him to become a full member in 1594. He helped established an orphanange and foundling hospital and spent much of his time caring for the black slaves brought to Peru from Africa.
Martin remained for the rest of his life a devoted servant of the poor, caring for the sick, treating them with dignity, reminding them of God’s love for people of every race and color. Those who knew him called him a loving father of the sick and the poor. He also loved and took care of animals and was famous for “Mouse March” into the convent’s garden and feeding them.
Martin had a great desire to go off to some foreign mission and thus earn the palm of martyrdom. However, since this was not possible, he made a martyr out of his body, devoting himself to ceaseless and severe penances. In turn, God endowed him with many graces and wondrous gifts, such as bilocation, levitation, prophecy and healing.
He possessed spiritual wisdom, demonstrated in his solving his sister’s marriage problems, raising a dowry for his niece in three days time and resolving theological problems for the learned of his Order and for Bishops. A close friend and neighbor of St. Rose of Lima, he died at Rosary Convent in Lima, Peru on November 3, 1639 and was canonized on May 6, 1962. His shrine is housed at the Santo Domingo Church in Lima, Peru.
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| About Sister Josie |
“I lay prostrate before God Almighty, for He has assigned me, a lowly servant, to reveal his compassionate mercy and redeeming love. A gift of divine grace poured out to those to whom the spirit of God led me. It is His divine power through Our Lord Jesus Christ that St. Martin de Porres Healing Ministry serves His sick and needy people.”
- Sister Josephine Garcia Dichoso
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