Who Was the Saint of the Broom?
St. Martin de Porres, the first black saint of the Americas, is one of the Church’s most beloved examples of humble charity. Known as “the saint of the broom,” he reminds us that true greatness lies in serving others with love.
A Humble Beginning
Born in Lima, Peru, in 1579, Martin was the son of a Spanish nobleman and Ana Velázquez, a freed slave of African and Indigenous descent. His parents never married, and his father abandoned the family when Martin was very young.
To help his mother and sister survive, Martin was apprenticed to a barber-surgeon, learning to cut hair, treat wounds, and prepare medicines—skills he would later use to care for the sick and poor.
Despite constant ridicule for his mixed race, Martin never lost hope or faith. He turned to prayer, developed a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, and found strength in the love of God.
The Saint of the Broom
In those days, unjust laws in Peru forbade people of African or Native heritage from entering religious life. Yet Martin longed to serve God more fully.
At fifteen, he asked to be admitted to the Dominican Convent of the Holy Rosary in Lima—not as a friar, but as a volunteer. He offered to do the most menial tasks: sweeping floors, cleaning rooms, and tending gardens.
His humility and joyful diligence soon earned him the affectionate nickname “the saint of the broom.” Martin’s quiet holiness touched hearts so deeply that the Prior defied the racial laws and allowed him to take vows as a Dominican lay brother.
Martin’s charity knew no bounds. He cared for the sick, the poor, and even stray animals, seeing the face of Christ in all. He founded an orphanage for abandoned children, raised dowries for poor girls, and gave away his own bed to those in need.
God blessed him with miraculous gifts—he was seen levitating in prayer, healing the sick instantly, and even appearing in two places at once. During an epidemic, Martin was found at the bedsides of the sick, though locked doors stood in his way. His love could not be confined.
The Saint of Charity
After decades of humble service, Martin fell ill with fever and pain but bore his suffering patiently. He died on November 3, 1639, surrounded by the brothers who loved him.
When his body was exhumed twenty-five years later, it was found incorrupt and emitted a sweet fragrance. Canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962, St. Martin de Porres remains a powerful patron of racial harmony, public health workers, and all who serve others with humility.
“Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness… even with a torrent of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness toward the unfortunate would create.”
— St. Martin de Porres
Discover the remarkable story of this humble healer whose love knew no limits. This inspiring book brings to life the man who turned every act of service—no matter how small—into an act of holiness.
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