3rd November - Saint Martin de Porres - Independent Catholic News

3rd November - Saint Martin de Porres - Independent Catholic News: Dominican lay brother. Patron saint of race relations. Born in 1579, in Lima, Peru, St Martin was the illegitimate son of a Spanish knight, John de Porres, and a free black woman, Anna Velasquez. As a boy he was apprenticed to a barber-surgeon. He spent his free time helping the Dominicans in their work with the poor. Eventually he became a lay brother, working during the day with the sick as a barber, gardener and counsellor. At night he prayed. St Martin soon earned a reputation as a healer. He also had tremendous skill with animals.