In the age of the explorers and conquistadors, many young
men left Europe for the Americas in order to seek out a fortune. St. Peter
Claver, a young Jesuit priest, left his native Spain for the Americas for a
different reason—not to buildup earthly treasure, but to build up treasure in
heaven.
In Cartegena, a port city in modern day Columbia, St. Peter
Claver ministered to the African slaves who were brought there to work in the
fields and the mines.
When the slave ships entered the port, Peter Claver would board
the ships to care for the sick and malnourished. And when the slaves were
herded to the slave-market, Peter, would bring them medicine, food, bread, and
other items that would help them survive in this new land.
With the help of interpreters, he gave the slaves basic
instructions in the faith; he assured them of their human dignity and the
salvation that awaited them in God's kingdom.
During the 40 years of his ministry in Columbia, it is estimated that
Claver baptized more 300,000 slaves.
Peter Claver remarked more than once how it took everything
in him at times to go down into the disgusting conditions of the slave-ships
filled with filth and stench. He reminds
us that true loving service isn’t always pretty, neat and clean—we might even
experience revulsion at the conditions in which the destitute live.
On this Memorial we read from Matthew 25, the Lord’s
teaching on the final judgment, a reminder that service of those in need is
never a waste of time. In each slave, to whom he ministered, Peter Claver
ministered to Christ himself. And for this, he is counted among the blessed. In
the words of Mother Theresa: "At the end of life we will not be judged by
how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great
things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me
something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me.”
We might not be called to enter into the filth of
slave-ships, but we are certainly called to enter into the lives of others to help
someone other than ourselves today. Again, in the words of Mother Theresa, “If
you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
The saints challenge us, don’t they, out of our comfort, to
not be afraid to get our hands dirty and smelly for the sake of the kingdom, to
bring the love of Christ to those whom the world discards.
The collect prayer said that St. Peter Claver became a slave
of slaves. Each of us does well to prayerfully consider how God is calling us
to follow his example of charity, courage, and devotion for the glory of God
and salvation of souls.
That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth
and goodness of the Gospel into every sphere of society.
For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of
inhumane oppression; and for the protection and respect of all human life.
For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or
grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of
the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.
Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church,
through the intercession of St. Peter Claver and all the saints, grant us what
we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our
Lord.
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