50th Anniversary of Canonization of Saint Martin de Porres

Today and throughout this year, Dominicans throughout the world will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the canonization of our brother Saint Martin de Porres.

I can trace the beginnings of my own vocation 'story' to the influence of Saint Martin de Porres. My late mother had a tremendous devotion to the saint and prayed the novena on a regular basis for her various needs and cares. She often attributed many of her blessings to the intercession of Saint Martin. In a certain sense, I grew up in the shadow of Saint Martin. As I began to know more about his life, the more impressed I became. I was struck how difficult he found it to even be accepted by the Order that he had such an influence on. I was impressed by his perseverance in the midst of great adversity. Only the cold-hearted could not be touched by his sensitivity to the poor and outcast. I was bowled over by the many 'magnificent' miracles attributed to him. I was humbled by his devotion to the Eucharist that sustained his life. To me he was and is the 'perfect' saint - and I am proud that he is a Dominican who can stand proudly beside the other great saints of the Order including Thomas Aquinas, Albert the Great, Catherine of Siena, Hyacinth and the hundreds of others. In the end, it was the response to a vocations advertisement in the Saint Martin Magazine about the Dominican vocation that led me on the journey to be a Dominican myself. I thank Saint Martin de Porres every day for this gift.

The Irish Dominican province, more than most, has reason to the thankful to this wonderful saint - not just because many people over the years have joined the Order because of the attractiveness of this saint -but also because the many friends and benefactors of Saint Martin have contributed financially to the education of generations of Dominicans, and the support of our ministry in Ireland and abroad. We would not be the province we are without Saint Martin de Porres.

Novena Prayer to Saint Martin de Porres

Most humble Saint Martin, whose burning charity embraces all, but especially those who are sick, afflicted or in need, we turn to you for help in our present difficulties, and we implore you to obtain for us from God, health of soul and body and in particular the favour we now ask.....................May we by imitating your charity and humility, find quiet and contentment all our days and cheerfuld submission to God's holy will, in all the trials and difficulties of life.

Pray for us Saint Martin, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: O God, who exalts the humble and who made Saint Martin your confessor, to enter into the heavenly kingdom, grant through his merits and intercession, that we may so follow the example of his humility on earth as to deserve to be axalted with him in heaven. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint Martin de Porres, the Saints and Vocations....

November 3rd is the feast day of our Dominican brother, Saint Martin de Porres. There is no doubting that Saint Martin is a saint for all ages and his life and work continue to inspire many people. As I have often noted elsewhere on this blog, I owe my Dominican vocation in no small part to the influence of Saint Martin de Porres, and I try with every opportunity to introduce him to others - and particularly those interested in vocation to the Dominican form of life.

It is no wonder that Saint Martin resonates with twenty-first century Catholics concerned with issues of justice, racial prejudice, the continuing divide between the rich and the poor and commitment to those at the margins of society. Martin with his commitment to all these issues and more is an ideal figure for a secular world. It becomes clear why he is beloved of so many, and why he has inspired many to follow him in the Dominican way.

It brings home the point that Saint Martin de Porres and indeed all those saints who lived vowed religious lives - if they are to make a difference, then there has to be some other unique aspect of their lives, some sign of grace, that makes a difference. While many would look at and focus on Saint Martin's commitment to the poor and deprived as the be all and end all, the fact remains that it was his life grounded in spirituality with the particular emphasis on community, sacrifice and the suffering love of Christ that marks him out as very different.

Today, many religious, particularly women's apostolic congregations that have worked long and hard in the areas of education and social service are suffering from fewer vocations and dwindling numbers. If one can serve the poor as a social worker, why become a brother, nun or priest? It is the distinctiveness of the religious vocation - that piece that marks it as different from the secular notion of career - that has become highly obscured. As Saint Martin, and many of the other saints remind us, it is the imitation of Christ, the following of Jesus in the service of the poor that makes the life of Martin both luminous and inspirational.

Saint Martin de Porres, pray for us.

Preaching Saint Martin de Porres

There is great devotion to Saint Martin de Porres in Ireland and many of our communities hold novenas and other days of prayer in honour of the Peruvian Dominican brother around this time of the year (his feastday is November 3rd). His life is an inspiration to many and part of the reason for the devotion to Saint Martin is because of the many human qualities that he used for the benefit of others and in the service of God. He is no ordinary saint and his life story challenges many to think about their attitude to violence, racism, justice, care of the sick and obedience - among other things.

On a personal note, I have great devotion to Martin de Porres. One of the reasons I came in contact with the Dominican Order was through the Saint Martin Magazine which is a monthly publication promoting devotion to the great saint. Twenty two years ago I replied to a vocations advertisement in that magazine - not knowing then that I would be a Dominican friar following in the footsteps of Saint Martin.

I have been priveliged to ask to preach the Saint Martin novena in our church at Saint Saviour's, Dominick Street, Dublin this year and also to preach at the triduum to Saint Martin in our priory church of Saint Eustace, Newbridge College in Co Kildare (November 2nd to 4th).

To see the list of devotional novenas and days of prayer in honour of Saint Martin in our Dominican churches throughout Ireland this year, please visit the Saint Martin Apostolate website here.