Saint Peter Claver

<p>Born near Barcelona, Spain, in 1580, Peter Claver joined the Jesuits in 1600. Inspired by Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, Peter resolved to work in the missions in the New World and was sent to Cartegena (now Columbia) in South America. Cartegena was then the centre of the slave trade and Peter tended to newly arrived Africans with food, water and medicine. For nearly 40 years, he ministered tirelessly to the slaves and pleaded with their owners to treat them humanely. In 1654, ill and neglected by his religious brothers, Peter Claver died. He was canonized in 1888. He is patron a of Colombia and of all missions to black peoples.<br /></p>
<p>©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>