Word to the Wise
Saturday, November 3, 2007 - St. Martin De Porres, O.P. (Patron of the Southern Dominican Province and universal patron for all who work for social and racial justice.)
[Romans 11:1-2A, 11-12, 25-29 and Luke 14:1, 7-11]For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
When I served as pastor of an inner city Hispanic parish in San Antonio, I learned an interesting fact that surprised me and surprises many people when I mention it. After Our Lady of Guadalupe, the most popular religious figure amongst Mexican people is St. Martin De Porres! Many Anglo-Americans have only the vaguest acquaintance with him other than with his race and even there would be unaware of his mixed ethnic racial heritage! This racial status for a long time denied him admission to priesthood and many religious orders. His father had him trained as a barber/physician and he was finally accepted at the Dominican Priory in Lima, Peru, first as a kind of live-in servant and eventually was given the habit of a lay brother (now known as Cooperator Brothers). His piety and outreach to the poor of Lima was famous in his own time. He lived in a broom closet under a stairwell and served as the doorman (porter). It was in this capacity that he began to feed and assist anyone who came to the front door. To this day, he is often portrayed with a broom in his hand and mice at his feet (a legend says he struck a deal with the mice that he would feed them outside if they'd stay outside!). Because he responded to rich and poor alike without discrimination he is a model for all who work for racial and social justice. Any people who have suffered greatly from discrimination would find in him a great patron. This is why so many poor Hispanics are devoted to him. Martin's life is a great example of the statement of Jesus which appears at the end of today's gospel scripture. It comes at the end of a parable in which Jesus points out the danger of seeking social advancement! If ever a human person humbled himself, Martin De Porres is that person! He would never have suffered the embarrassment of being asked to take the last place. Someone would have to take it from him! He probably wouldn't have been invited to the party to begin with, but certainly would not have sought a social prominent place! As a nation we still have a long way to go in matters of racial justice. There is still an "us and them" attitude on the part of all ethnic groups. It is a difficult prejudice to root out but root it out we must if we want to consider ourselves truly Christian. AMEN
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