I have a guest posting on Cherishing Everyday Beauty. Sarah started a series on saints, sharing stories on her blog, of regular people who have a saint close to their heart. Saints show us an example of extraordinary humbleness and trust in God in every day life.
My story is about an unlikely saint who I came to know and strangely enough realized how much we had in common.
Saint of the Broom
He came to me in a dream. Not his face, just his name. It was written out like a cloud in the sky, St. Martin De Porres. I remember sleepily thinking I would look him up on the internet when I awoke.
I was out of work for four months and getting worried. I had been a teacher then a single-sex school consultant, opening two public schools with my friend in a local Ohio school district. School budgets were getting tight, so we decided to dissolve our business and go out on our own. I had sent my resume to several non-profit organizations. I volunteered for a non-profit animal shelter giving my resume to the Executive Director, however he didn't seem interested. I became an "animal person" later in life and had hoped to switch careers from education to animal welfare. I asked God to show me which direction to take.
The dream of St. Martin De Porres gave me hope God was showing me a sign. I rushed to the computer to find out who this saint was. The first words I saw were "Saint of the Broom". My heart sank. There was a picture of him there too-- a young black man with a broom in his hand. I wasn't sure what this meant. I wondered if there could be a saint more opposite than me?
I was getting a little worried why God was sending me this saint. I began reading about him. St. Martin De Porres had opened schools and he loved animals. Not only did he love animals he could talk to them. Animals listened to him and followed his instructions. He started an animal shelter in his sister's house. I read a story where his sister came to him and said "Don't bring anymore stray dogs for me to take care of they are soiling my house!" St. Martin went to her house and gathered all the dogs and told them to go outside near the street to relieve themselves. From that time on, all the dogs never soiled his sister's house again. There we more stories like this, the humble saint that talked to mice, chickens and other barnyard animals. He also had many gifts. He even healed humans and animals alike.
He was illegitimate. His mother was a free black slave and his father a white Spanish nobleman. He was born in Lima Peru in 1579, and had a sister born three years later. His father left the family after his sister was born. He grew up in poverty. He spent long hours in prayer and wanted to become a religious. When he was fifteen he was accepted as a servant boy to the Dominicans of the Holy Rosary. By Peru law, he could not become a religious because of his African heritage. After eight years the prior of the Dominicans, ignored the law to let him become a lay brother .
St. Martin is known for his great humility and work for the poor. He established an orphanage, a hospital, schools and an animal shelter. He was devoted to the Blessed Sacrament. He did severe penances and prayed ceaselessly. He had the gifts of bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures and the ability to communicate with animals.
About three months after my dream, I went to a lunch with my friend. As we were being seated, I saw the Executive Director of the animal shelter I volunteered for. He asked how I was doing and told me to send him my resume again. I laughed to myself, thinking how God lines everything up. I knew then, I would get the job. My first day was February 19th, seven years ago.
St. Martin's holy card is at my desk, watching over me now for seven years. Not just me, but countless animals, co-workers and acquaintances. I have given the card to many of my friends at work who have wept saying the prayer on the back of the holy card--most are not Catholic. Praying for a miracle on behalf of a furry friend. Miracles have come. Even without a miracle, St. Martin is always there giving us peace.
I have a statue of St. Martin De Porres, and yes he is holding a broom. When you look closer though, you can see a little bird perched on his shoulder and at his feet, a mouse, a cat and a dog are eating out of the same dish.
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