Learning Virtue from St. Martin de Porres
[This post appeared originally on my full site, which is now no longer in operation, in November 2012.]
It seems that more should be written about a saint from whom we can
learn so many lessons in virtue. Yet that is not the case with St.
Martin de Porres, from whom we have much to learn about humility,
detachment, fasting, justice, and charity. The website of the St. Martin de Porres Shrine and Institute
(located in my own diocese; a wonderful initiative with a beautiful
chapel) offers a mere four paragraphs of biographical information, while
other sites (here, here, and here)
devote no more than 10 sentences to this exemplar of heroic virtue.
Surely, Brother Martin, who was so humble in this life, finds that to be
a fitting scenario even after his death.
From the very earliest days of his life, he embraced his lowly situation. He desired to do nothing more than glorify the Creator by serving creatures. He reached out to slaves, orphans, the poor and infirm, and the Dominican friars and sisters of Lima, Peru. He was so filled with charity that he desired to “earn the palm of martyrdom,” and he chose to engage in “ceaseless and severe penances” (presumably on behalf of others as well as himself). [1]
St. Martin de Porres deeply understood the virtue of justice, which gives first to God what is due to His holy name (cf. CCC 1807) and seeks to come into right relationship with Him. That profound understanding created a ripple-effect in Brother Martin’s life that led him to freely and joyfully lower himself so as to assist others (humility); to detach himself from all earthly treasures and pleasures (detachment and fasting); to donate everything within himself for the good of others and for the glory of the Father (charity).
I stand in awe of Brother Martin’s example of virtue. There is much that I have to learn from the man who didn’t think himself good enough to take vows in the Order of Preachers; who “fasted continuously” and “spent much time in prayer and meditation”; who begged alms from the wealthy people of his community, not for his own benefit, but for that of the sick children. [2] I also understand that if I seek to grow in many virtues, that I must first seek to deeply understand and apply just one (God will cultivate the rest in His time and methods). I pray for St. Martin’s intercession as I try to be more humble and detached from the things of this world, and focused on the things of the next.
[1] “St. Martin de Porres” on Catholic.org <http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=306>
[2] “St. Martin de Porres” on Saints.SQPN.com <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-martin-de-porres/>
It seems that more should be written about a saint from whom we can
learn so many lessons in virtue. Yet that is not the case with St.
Martin de Porres, from whom we have much to learn about humility,
detachment, fasting, justice, and charity. The website of the St. Martin de Porres Shrine and Institute
(located in my own diocese; a wonderful initiative with a beautiful
chapel) offers a mere four paragraphs of biographical information, while
other sites (here, here, and here)
devote no more than 10 sentences to this exemplar of heroic virtue.
Surely, Brother Martin, who was so humble in this life, finds that to be
a fitting scenario even after his death.From the very earliest days of his life, he embraced his lowly situation. He desired to do nothing more than glorify the Creator by serving creatures. He reached out to slaves, orphans, the poor and infirm, and the Dominican friars and sisters of Lima, Peru. He was so filled with charity that he desired to “earn the palm of martyrdom,” and he chose to engage in “ceaseless and severe penances” (presumably on behalf of others as well as himself). [1]
St. Martin de Porres deeply understood the virtue of justice, which gives first to God what is due to His holy name (cf. CCC 1807) and seeks to come into right relationship with Him. That profound understanding created a ripple-effect in Brother Martin’s life that led him to freely and joyfully lower himself so as to assist others (humility); to detach himself from all earthly treasures and pleasures (detachment and fasting); to donate everything within himself for the good of others and for the glory of the Father (charity).
I stand in awe of Brother Martin’s example of virtue. There is much that I have to learn from the man who didn’t think himself good enough to take vows in the Order of Preachers; who “fasted continuously” and “spent much time in prayer and meditation”; who begged alms from the wealthy people of his community, not for his own benefit, but for that of the sick children. [2] I also understand that if I seek to grow in many virtues, that I must first seek to deeply understand and apply just one (God will cultivate the rest in His time and methods). I pray for St. Martin’s intercession as I try to be more humble and detached from the things of this world, and focused on the things of the next.
[1] “St. Martin de Porres” on Catholic.org <http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=306>
[2] “St. Martin de Porres” on Saints.SQPN.com <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-martin-de-porres/>
