Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Martin de Porres, Religious, O.P. (1579-1639): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was noted for work on behalf of the poor, establishing an orphanage & a children's hospital/ He maintained an austere lifestyle, which including fasting & abstaining from meat. Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of levitation, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures, & an ability to communicate with animals.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in 1579 to parents of mixed race. Raised primarily by his mother, a freed slave, Martin experienced the effects of racism & poverty early in his life. He became the apprentice of a barber, learning not only how to cut hair, but to perform basic medical treatments. feeling called to give his life to God in service of the lowly, Martin entered the Dominicans, who accepted him as a lay helper & later as a brother. he spent his days caring for those who were sick & poor, as well as performing menial tasks within the monastery. His nights were spent in prayer, penance, & adoration.

During the homily at lunchtime Mass at St. Matthew's in downtown Flint, the celebrant, Father Tom Firestone, conflated the lives of St. Martin de Porres, O.P. & St. Peter Claver, S.J. (9 September). This was somewhat understandable given their contemporaneous lives, geographic proximity, & roles in the history of race relations in the New World, but unfortunate all the same. I wished gently to correct Father after Mass, but he slipped out before I had the opportunity.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Malachy, Bishop (circa 1094-1148, A.K.A. O'More, Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair, of Armagh): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verses three thru eight(a);
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses two thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fifteen, verses one thru ten;

or, for St. Martin:
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter four, verses four thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-four thru forty.