The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres Quotes

“Though we are confident that Blessed Martin had no serious sins with which to reproach himself, though his contemporaries assure us that they had moral certitude that he had ever preserved his baptismal innocence, he regarded himself, like St. Paul, as the least of all men and unworthy of the habit he wore. Martin never lost an opportunity of being humiliated; he gladly received any personal insults and injuries as an ordinary person would receive favors. Indeed, he evidenced clear signs of gratitude to those who humbled him - he looked upon them as his real benefactors, and nothing caused him so much affliction of the soul and mental anguish as hearing himself the object of praise. When he found himself thus honored, especially by those distinguished by their good sense and their position of dignity in the community, he promptly sought out the most hidden place and there mercilessly inflicted upon himself a penance, usually in the form of the discipline. When it was impossible for him to retire, he had the habit of striking his breast unobtrusively and humbling himself before Almighty God. Even at times, especially when he was not conscious of the fact that he was being observed, strange words of self-deprecation fell from his lips. We are assured that he often repeated epithets of scorn, that he would mutter: 'What real merit have you? Remember that you ought to be nothing but a slave. Only through the mercy of God are you tolerated by these holy religious.”
― J.C. Kearns, The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres: Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice

“One of the religious desired to see Martin very urgently and so came to his cell in search of him. Martin was apparently not in the room for, though it was dark, the religious, calling out, ascertained as well as he could in the darkness that the Brother was not there. However, as he was leaving the cell, the capuche, or cowl, of his habit caught on to something. In his amazement, he looked up to see what it was, and as he raised his hand to free the cowl, he saw, oddly enough, that it was Brother Martin's foot that had caught in the hood of his habit. The servant of God was suspended in the air, rapt in prayer and oblivious to all about him.”
― J.C. Kearns, The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres: Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice

“Before taking the discipline for the first time, Brother Martin spent considerable time in prayer. Then he lashed himself with an iron chain armed with hooks of steel until the blood flowed copiously; to increase the pain and at the same time to staunch the flow of blood, he rubbed the wounds with salt and vinegar, in this way hoping to make reparation for his faults and failings. Then Martin would spend a long period of time in the chapter room, meditating on the sufferings of Our Divine Lord, with his eyes often fixed upon the crucifix. Filled with a longing to participate in the sorrows and pains endured by Christ, Martin made preparations for the second nightly flagellation by ripping off his garments, which were matted with blood and glued fast to his shoulders. The instrument of torture now was a leather whip, and Martin inflicted an even more severe punishment upon his back and shoulders, begging Almighty God to take pity upon sinners and especially to open wide the gates of heaven by the conversion of infidels. It was zeal for souls, for those for whom Christ had shed His own Precious Blood, that urged Blessed Martin to lash himself mercilessly with this leather whip. He was only too happy to share in the bitter Passion of Christ, on the details of which he had just lovingly meditated; and he would only too gladly endure any physical pain, any agony however terrifying, if only thereby he could win souls to Christ.

Martin now permitted his weary body to snatch brief rest which we have mentioned previously. With the approach of dawn, before four o'clock, he arose and ran to the bell tower, where he greeted the dawn in honor of the Mother of God, as was his regular custom. It was at this time that the holy Negro took the third and most severe of his scourgings. Again, it was preceded by prayer and the cruel removal of the rough tunic which was stuck fast to his flesh. This third scourging was administered with the branch of a wild quince tree, and sometimes Martin would enlist the assistance of an Indian or a Negro in whom he could confide and who was indebted to Blessed Martin for some outstanding kindness. Mercilessly the lash was applied by strong and powerful hands. In the midst of his sufferings Martin would urge on his friend to greater vigor and to be utterly brutal in applying this instrument for penance. This third and last scourging was for the relief of the Poor Souls abandoned in the fires of Purgatory.”
― J.C. Kearns, The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres: Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice

“Like his Holy Father, St. Dominic, Blessed Martin thrice each night subjected himself to bloody disciplines. He did his best to keep these cruel lacerations of his innocent body from being known; but, of course, it was impossible. Thus, for example, when he was sent by the Fathers to the farm at Limatambo, he endeavored to practice these penances secretly in the confines of an olive grove. However, the Negroes who labored on the farm discovered the bloodsplattered trees and soil; wondering about it all, they soon had their curiosity satisfied when they detected Brother Martin in the midst of his severe penances. Instead of being shocked, they were deeply edified, and whenever they saw the servant of God directing his steps thither, they would say: 'There goes Brother Martin to sprinkle the olive trees with his blood.”
― J.C. Kearns, The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres: Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice

“Martin delighted in performing the most menial of tasks. He swept the cloisters and sought out the most neglected places that he might rid them of litter and set things in order. One day someone saw him thus engaged and told him that the heavy work he was doing would more fittingly be performed by the servants of the convent. Martin answered that he was the most despicable of all the slaves.

When, at the command of his Superior, he paid his respects to the Archbishop of Mexico, who visited Lima on a number of occasions, the humble Brother was forced to accept many signs of appreciation. He was honored as a guest and had servants to wait upon him. With childlike simplicity he broke away as soon as possible from all these little signs of reverence and distinction and ran back to the convent. Quickly grasping a broom, Martin began to sweep with much zest and to clean out the most abandoned spots in the convent.”
― J.C. Kearns, The Life of Blessed Martin de Porres: Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice