St. Martin de Porres
1579 - 1629

Canonized in 1962. Martin de Porres was born of a Spanish father and a black mother. Because of the color of his skin he knew discrimination and neglect in his childhood. He was apprenticed to a barber-surgeon who taught him healing arts. He became a lay brother (today called cooperator brother) in the Dominican Convent of the Holy Rosary in Lima. Martin was known for curing both people and animals as much through prayer as through healing arts. He was renown for his charity, compassion, humility, prayer and penance. There were so many miracles attributed to Martin that he was called a saint in his lifetime. He is considered the Patron of Racial and Social Justice.

Blessed Imelda Lambertini
1322-1333

When Imelda was eleven, after the convent’s Ascension Day community Mass, when the nuns were leaving the