St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian of African and Indigenous descent, was born in Lima, Peru, and became the first Black saint of the Americas. Known for his deep humility, charity, and healing abilities, he joined the Dominican Order as a lay brother. Despite the racial barriers of his time, Martin was renowned for his care for the poor, his miraculous healings, and his compassion for animals.
He is one of the most venerated saints in Latin America and the Philippines, canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. St. Martin is the patron saint of racial harmony, social justice, and public health workers.
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