Martin de Porres
St. Martín de Porres (December 9 1579--1639) was a Dominican friar who was beatified in 1873 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized on May 16 1962 by Pope John XXIII. His feast day is November 3.
He was born in Lima, Peru, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a young freed slave woman, possibly Afro-Peruvian, born in Panama. He grew up in poverty, and at the age of 11 was taken in by the Dominicans as a servant. As his duties grew he was promoted to almoner, and then put in charge of the infirmary. His piety and miraculous cures led his superiors to drop the racial limits on admission to the Order and he was made a full Dominican brother.
His work on behalf of the poor was tireless: he established an orphanage and a children's hospital. He maintained an austere lifestyle, which included fasting and forswearing meat. His devotion to prayer was notable even by the pious standards of the age. He is often depicted with a broom, since he considered all work to be sacred no matter how menial.
He was a friend of St. John de Massias and Saint Rose of Lima. He died in Lima in 1639.
The district of San Martín de Porres in Lima was named in honor of this saint.