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San Pedro Claver (1581-1654) September 9
Jesuit missionary to South America who, in dedicating his life
to the aid of Negro slaves, earned the title of apostle of the
Negroes.
Peter entered the Society of Jesus in 1602 and eight years later
was sent to Cartagena, where he was ordained in 1616. The
miserable condition of the slaves aboard ship and in the pens of
Cartagena, South America's chief slave market, caused Peter to
declare himself “the slave of the Negroes forever.” Accompanied
by interpreters and carrying food and medicines, he boarded
every incoming slave ship and visited the pens, where he nursed
the sick and taught religion. Despite strong official
opposition, Peter persevered for 38 years, baptizing an
estimated 300,000 slaves. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII, who
in 1896 proclaimed him patron of all Roman Catholic missions to
Negroes. |
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Sunday September 5, 2010 -
Today’s Readings
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Today’s Readings
First Reading
— Who can ever know God’s counsel unless God gives wisdom and sends the
Holy Spirit from on high? (Wisdom 9:13-18b)
Psalm — In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge (Psalm 90)
Second Reading — Paul asks Philemon to accept back his slave
Onesimus, not as a slave but as a brother (Philemon 9-10, 12-17)
Gospel — To be a disciple of Jesus one must carry one’s own cross
and renounce all possessions (Luke 14:25-33) |
