Feast of Saint Martin de Porres, legacy of racism
3rd
November is the feast of St Martin de Porres of Peru, whose patronage extends
to many causes, people and groups. Born in 1579,
he died in 1639 at the age of 59. His racial and colonial heritage is of
great importance, born to Ana
Velázquez, a freed slave from Panama, his father was a nobleman, Don Juan de
Porres. An illegitimate child born to a black woman Martin faced racism from an
early age. Desiring to enter religious life and dedicate his life to God was
not an easy task for him. Peruvian law of that time barred descendants of
Africans and Native Americans from becoming full members of a religious order.
Martin joined as a volunteer and took on menial tasks at the age of 15.
Prior Juan de Lorenzana, decided to ignore the law and
permitted Martin to take his vows and a member of the Third Order of Saint
Dominic. This decision was not accepted by all at the order, some called Martin
a ‘mulatto dog’ while others mocked him for being a illegitimate child who
descended from slaves.
St Martin de Porres and his struggles with racism are
a modern problem within the Church. Exclusion is painful, and antithetical to
the Gospel message. Christ calls everyone, his kingdom is open to everyone, his
grace is on everyone, he alone is our judge. Slavery is a painful chapter in
our history, its aftereffects still felt by many communities.
The exclusion of Martin from the Church is one that
many black people and other minorities still face. Racism is ugly, it robs a
person of their dignity, dehumanising them. When Christians resort to worldly
prejudice we betray the Gospel message. The life of St Martin and his mother are
still relevant today, slavery, single motherhood, racism and exclusion are
issues we are still fighting. St Martin’s sainthood is an act of justice for
the people of his generation and today. It gives us hope in the Church, to
remember him is an act of solidarity with our black brothers and sister.
To my BAME brothers and sisters reading this take
heart and don’t lose hope. Don’t give up the fight remember Christ is on your
side and there are those that support you, the Church belongs to all of us.
Saint
Martin de Porres pray for us
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