Saintly Healers

Today we have two saints who are known for miraculous healings.

St Winfred

Feast Day:  November 3
Born: ??
Death: 660
Patron of virgins
Wales

Our first saint is a legendary saint.  Winifred was born to a wealthy family and sister to another saint (Beuno).  Supposedly, she was beheaded by a suitor whom she rebuffed.  However, Beuno took up her head from the ground and set it back in its rightful place. From where it had fallen, there instantly sprang up a well of pure clear water. At the same time, he commanded the congregation to pray that Winifred might be restored to life and fulfill her vow of chastity; and, when they arose from praying, she arose with them. For the rest of her life she had a red mark round her throat where it had been sliced through.

Winifred became a nun in the nearby village of Denbigshire.  She succeeded the abbess and remained there until her death 15 years later.

The spring where Winifred's head fell, is called Holy Well or St. Winifred's Well and became a great pilgrimage center where many cures have been reported over the centuries.

St. Winifred, pray for us!

Love this little peg painted by another mom
Aren't the animals so cute?

St. Martin de Porres

Feast Day: November 3
Born:  1579
Death: 1639
Patron of Mixed Race, Barbers, Public Health Workers, Innkeepers
Lima, Peru

There could not be two different saints yet they both are known for their healing abilities.

Martin was born to a freed slave who had not married.  His father (a Spanish gentleman) abandoned the mother and son (as well as a sister) when he was very young.  Their financial situation became so extreme that he was placed as an apprentice in a barber shop at a very young age.  He had little education but learned quickly and was able to learn the barber's skill as a physician as well as other duties.

In Peru, by law, all descendants of African or Indians were not allowed to become full members of religious orders.  At the age of 15 years old, Martin, who spent long hours in prayer, longed to join the Dominicans.  He found his only way into the community would be to volunteer to perform the most menial tasks in the monastery. In return, he would be allowed to wear the habit and live within the religious community.

Martin was eventually given the task of distributing money to deserving poor.  During this time, Martin took on his old trades of barbering and healing. He also worked in the kitchen, did laundry and cleaned.

After eight years, Martin was granted the privilege to take his vows as a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic against the laws of the day.  Even though he also completed all his tasks, Martin was called horrible names and mocked for being illegitimate and descending from slaves.

At the age of 24, Martin was allowed to be ordained a lay brother.  He would later be placed in charge of the infirmary.  His ability to heal could not be surpassed.  Martin was praised for his unconditional care of all people, regardless of race or wealth. He took care of everyone from the Spanish nobles to the African slaves. Martin didn't care if the person was diseased or dirty, he would welcome them.

It is said Martin had many extraordinary abilities, including aerial flights, bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, spiritual knowledge and an excellent relationship with animals. Martin also founded an orphanage for abandoned children and slaves and is known for raising dowry for young girls in short amounts of time.

In 1639, Martin became very ill with chills, fevers and tremors causing him agonizing pain. He would experience almost a year full of illness until he passed away.   After his death, the miracles received when he was invoked in such greatness that when he was exhumed 25 years later, his body exhaled a splendid fragrance and he was still intact.

At Martin's canonization in 1962, Saint John XXIII remarked: "He excused the faults of others. He forgave the bitterest injuries, convinced that he deserved much severer punishments on account of his own sins. He tried with all his might to redeem the guilty; lovingly he comforted the sick; he provided food, clothing and medicine for the poor; he helped, as best he could, farm laborers and Negroes, as well as mulattoes, who were looked upon at that time as akin to slaves: thus he deserved to be called by the name the people gave him: 'Martin of Charity.'"

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us!