Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Peter Claver, Patron Saint of all Netmakers, Shipbuilders and Fishermen | September 9

Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Peter Claver, Patron Saint of all Netmakers, Shipbuilders and Fishermen | September 9   To inspire us today is St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit priest who spent his life in the mission in Colombia. St. Peter was born in 1581 to a well-off family in Verdu, Spain. He studied in Barcelona and in 1601 entered the Society of Jesus.  While studying for the priesthood, he asked to work in the mission in Cartagena, Colombia and there he was ordained priest. His mission was very extraordinary! Cartagena had two ports where slaves from Africa were brought to be sold. About 10,000 slaves arrived every year. Whenever the slaves arrived, he would meet them, give them food and teach them about Jesus Christ. He also encouraged the slave owners to treat their slaves with kindness and dignity. In a span of 34 years, St. Peter Claver baptized and catechized 300,000 slaves. At the age of 73, he became sick and remained in his room. He was under the care of an ex-slave who treated him badly, never even feeding him on time, but he never complained. On September 7, 1654 he died. Hearing about his death, the Carthaginian’s and the slaves came to see his remains. Unexpectedly, they stripped him of all his belongings, except of his bed clothes, taking them as relics from a holy man. Miracles and cures happened after his death. and the Church recognized his sanctity. He was canonized in 1888. His memorial is celebrated on September 9. St. Peter Claver, you worked among the most traumatized and destitute population of your time, caring of slaves, because they were made in the image and likeness of God. Help us to understand, protect and exalt the inherent dignity of every human person, just like you did. In this time of pandemic, am I respectful towards the poor and the marginalized? Do I try to help in any manner I can? How do I treat our household?