Slave to the Slaves

I began my peg doll journey back in March of this year.  I did not know how much I was going to enjoy this project until the details of my canvas came to life before me and now I cannot get enough of these meaningful little dolls.

I was asked recently if I had a blog for my creations.  The thought never crossed my mind but since it has become such an important part of our family journey to grow closer to the saints, I decided I would try to at least recognize the saints on their feast days...at least the little saints I have created.

Today is the first of these tributes....a saint I have enjoyed learning about through stories my children learn in their schooling.

Peter Claver
Feast Day:  September 9th
Patron of negro missions
Birth: 1580
Death: 1654
Originally from Verdu, Catalonia, Spain
Peasant upbringing
Jesuit priest and missionary

Peter would arrive in the islands of Cartagena (modern Colombia) and was disgusted by what he saw.  Thousands of slaves came into the country daily and their well being was sorely overlooked as they were considered sub-human.

Eventually, he began renouncing the slave trade all together and ministered to their basic needs.  He would be known for taking care of their physical and spiritual needs...baptizing as many as possible and teaching them about the hope that could be found in Jesus Christ.  He would actually enter the slave ships upon their arrival in the harbor and give them whatever he was able as they were usually starving and quite ill.  Many of their companions would not even make it so far on the journey dying at sea and being thrown overboard with little recognition.

Peter fought for better conditions for these slaves until his death on the island where he served.  After working through multiple plagues, actively administering to the needs of the sick, he succumbed to the sickness.

Claver was beatified by Pope Pius IX on September 21, 1851. Along with his friend and spiritual mentor, Alphonsus Rodríguez, he was canonized by Leo XIII on January 15, 1888.

"We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips."

Our little peg doll was humbly made the day before his feast day.  We were able to attend Mass on his feast day and the children showed it to Father on his way to the altar.  He immediately snatched the doll from their hands and placed him on the altar.  What a especially blessed 'saint' we have to enjoy.