Saint Martin de Porres (Part 2)

Martin’s care for the rich, the poor, the sick, the oppressed, those who oppressed him, and even animals is a reflection of his love for Christ—his identification of his brothers and sisters as siblings in the family of God the Father. A few stories better explain his love for all creatures:
 
For His Brothers
 
In his service to the friars there are many accounts—given as cause for his beatification in the latter half of the seventeenth century—of his charity in the face of bigotry. Writes Giuliana Cavallini:

One day the prior found him prostrate on the floor in a venia at the feet of a sick priest. What could have happened?
 
‘I was receiving the ashes, even though the first day of Lent is still far off,’ explained Martin, lifting his smiling face, as if he were amused by the oddness of the situation. ‘This Reverend Father reminded me of my humble birth and sprinkled the ashes of my defects on my head. In order to thank him, I am kissing, not his venerable hands which touch God every day and which I am not worthy to touch, but his feet, and I do it with great reverence because they are the feet of a minister of Christ.”

Cavallini recounts one more incident of Martin’s great humility:

One day Martin learned that the prior had gone out to sell several valuable objects, not having enough money to pay certain debts of the monastery and to provide for the needs of the community. The news made him thoughtful... Could not some other solution be found?
 
Perhaps Martin recalled having heard how St. Dominic, in order to redeem a poor woman’s brother from the slavery of the Saracens offered to go as a slave in his place...So Martin ran through the streets of Lima after the prior, who was headed for the merchants’ quarter. He overtook the prior and, still breathless, explained his idea, begging him not to sell the objects he had with him, but to sell him…and it would be a great blessing for him to find, at last, someone who would treat him as he deserved!
 
The prior was dumbfounded. At first he did not understand Martin. When he grasped Martin’s plan, his eyes filled with tears. “Go back to the monastery, Brother. You are not for sale.”

The prior’s simple words show his profound love for the saint. Martin seems to have exhibited a youthful innocence, docility and humility that many other saints like him have possessed.
 
For The Sick
 
An epidemic of measles had broken out in Lima and had overcome nearly 60 of the brethren. Martin, as usual, cared for them without rest. He always seemed to have just what they needed—a fresh tunic and sheets for those covered in sweat, a refreshing drink, or a special fruit, herbs and medicines to ease their pain. But Martin was not always a miracle worker. He often endeavored to conceal any miraculous healing that might occur—pointing to the medicine that he had administered or even the prayers of others rather than his own healing hands. But on more than one occasion the brothers recounted times when he was not even given the chance to apply his medicinal talents before the patient recovered. However, we would be remiss to claim that every patient who came under Martin’s care was sure to recover fully and live a long and healthy life. There is the story of the young novice, Brother Matthias de Barasa, who fell ill during the measles epidemic. One evening, knowing that he had little time left, he called for the consoling presence of Brother Martin. But the novitiate had already been locked that night, and the novice master was the only one with a key. And so the porter hurried to the novice master begging to allow Martin to enter the novitiate. As the porter was returning with the keys, he stopped by the novice’s room to say that Martin would be there soon, only to find him already there consoling the dying novice.
 

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