1. 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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  2. The Apostolate of Holy Motherhood, is a diary of a young mother of three who had visions of Jesus and Mary for nine months in 1987.  The Virgin Mary wanted a silent apostolate to begin with mothers around the world to assist in ushering in the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart.

    Jesus and Mary appeared to the young mother named Mariamante, giving her instructions for the movement and guidance for life.  The diary has the Imprimatur for sound teaching. 

    I've had the book for decades, its rumpled pages worn from reading.  Jesus' words given to the visionary, have  always given me comfort, especially when I'm going through the worst of times. With life's burdens weighing down upon me, I picked up the book.  I opened it to these words from Jesus.
    "Turn to Me rather than each other in times of crisis.  Persons spend hours talking about their problems to each other, when if they spent half that time with Me in the Blessed Sacrament, all their problems would be solved.  I say solved in the sense of them having strength to carry their crosses or, in some cases, even removed if it is not for the betterment of their soul that they carry it.  Many carry needless burdens because they do not come to Me.  They seek human solutions when there are none."
    "I alone can truly help you.  You must learn this in time if you are to be truly Mine and not of this world.  Why all this talk in the face of problems?  Prayer is your answer, not talking to each other repeatedly about the same things...God alone can truly help you in the way in which you need it, and My Mother's intercession will make it all possible.  Turn to her in your needs and sorrows.  Tell her your woes, not each other.  Pray for help and guidance.  Think of others and pray for the world.  This will give you the peace and joy you seek.  Idle talk, idle hours spent in useless talk is unnecessary and often can be dangerous for the soul.  When will My children learn this!  They seek answers in each other, when they have none.  I alone have the answers to peace of mind and heart."

    If you have never gone to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament I encourage you to go.  Many Catholic Churches have an adoration chapel.  In the adoration chapel is a tabernacle with the Eucharist (Holy Communion), a lighted candle and seating.  You don't have to be Catholic to go, or even believe.  I know many people of different faiths that have found peace there.  Sometime, just go and sit.  You can pray, or read, or write, but I like sitting.  You WILL find peace there (-go more than once).
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