We celebrate all the canonized saints on Sunday with the solemnity of All Saints, and then on Monday we celebrate All Souls, our very own personal saints who loved us into being and whom we love and remember every day in our prayers.
Scriptures tell us of the great crowd of witnesses who stand before God, giving him praise and worship. Because of their proximity to God, we ask them to intercede for us. This aspect of the saints is what the church uses to raise people to the canon of Saints. In order to become a canonized saint we ask certain people, obviously dead, to intercede for us and to gain for us a certain grace or favour. If something miraculous happens in response to our prayer we take it as an indication that God favours them and that person is then recognized as an “official” saint.
This is where the archdiocese is right now with regards to the cause for the sainthood of Danny and Domitilla Hyams. The archdiocese has recognized that they are holy people and given them the title “servants of God” and is asking the local church to ask for their prayers of intercession. Should a miracle be done in their name the church will admit them to the canon of saints as the very first official saints of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.
Saints are the people in heaven we look to for inspiration, for help and guidance. During the confirmation process we are asked to choose a saint, to study them and learn from them. We take them as our friend, a guide, and an intercessor before the Lord. The saint after whom our parish is named is a very apt saint for South Africa, given our history of discrimination.
St. Martin was born in Lima, Peru on December 9, 1579 to a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave from Panama. His parents were never married, and his father abandoned his family after St. Martin’s sister was born. This part of his story resonates deeply with the experience of many South Africans. St. Martin was raised in poverty which made him sensitive to the needs of others. As a child, he would give away goods to the homeless and beggars. At twelve years old, he began an apprenticeship with a barber-surgeon. St. Martin learned how to cut hair, draw blood, care for wounds, and administer medicine.
St. Martin started to volunteer with the Dominicans when he was fifteen years old and became a Dominican oblate (lay helper) in 1601. He was devoted to the Eucharist and constant prayer. His days were spent tending to the sick, doing basic chores, and distributing food and alms to the poor.
St. Martin had compassion and love for people regardless of their race or status. He established a hospital and an orphanage to care for those in need. His compassion also extended to animals. St. Martin would feed and medically treat all animals, including those that were vermin. That is why pictures or statues of him often show a dog or a mouse at his feet.
St. Martin died of a fever on November 3, 1639. He is the patron saint of social justice, barbers, hair stylists, inn keepers, public health workers, mixed-race individuals, and those who seek racial harmony.
Today we give thanks for all of the saints and particularly our own St Martin de Porres. May their example inspire and teach us how to extend the merciful and compassionate love of our Father to all people.
