The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-08
B1oeaApH1cAL sHETcH or BLESSED PETER
CLAVER. ~

i38sl3fi7 - fftsa i.,.s5ss = ss.ii 81 7
On the 2lst of September, 1851, the Sow
ereign Pontiff Plus TX beatifed Venerable
Peter Claver, of the Society of Jesus. It
| is the life of this man of God, SO heroic in
his zeal for the salvation OF poor negroes,
whose slave lie had constituted himself by
VOW, which we intend to place before our
readers, hoping it will inspire them with a
more exalted idea than they have liither-
to had of the great, holy and divine virtue
of charity. al =. st
Don Pedro Claver and Donna Anna, his
wife, belonged to two of the noblest families
of Spain. They were childless; in their
affliction they had recourse to the Almighty,
who deigned to listen to their prayer and
grant them u son, whom they promised to
of their affection should feel himself called
to enter Holy Orders. They did not then
think their little Peter would require of
| them very different sacrifice-that of
burying in tho obscurity Of the clOister the
honor, the stay, the consolation of their
old age. This, however, was the case
After completing his studies with great
success, and feeling himself irresistibly
drawn towards the Society of Jesus, he con-
jured his parents to ;taOw him to enter
therein. After many circumstances and
bitter tears, this favor having been granted,
Peter set out for the nOvitiate of Tara
gona. He had no sooner prpnounced his
first vows than he was sent TO Majorca to
study philosophy. There was at that time
in this residence of the Jesuits simple lay
brother, who, during long years, had full
cuisinier-see his life), and who had attained
an eminent degree of sanctity. His name
was Alphonsus Rodriguez.
and the old brother knew what was passing
in each others interior, aud, filed with
mutual respect, confidence and affection,
they threw themselves Mt each others feet,
understanding each other without pro-
nouncing a single word. Their souls were
God shortly after revealed to the holy
brother, in a vision, the future greatness of
him whom he had given a disciple, and
that he was destined to labor in the mis-
sioas of the West Indies.
In order to correspond to the designs of
Providence in this regard, Peter Claver,
| after studying theology for two years, OBJ
| tanned permission to sail for America. The
vessel which bore our Saint arrived at Car
| thagena, the most frequented port of New
Grenada, then the centre of maritime COM
merce in the New World, and, while blush
ing with shame for humanity, let us add
the chief mart of the slave traffic. The
sight of this horrible traffic. ard the sad
condition of those poor negroes slowed
pell-mcli in dark, damp mud novels, ex
haling the most fetid stencil, filled with in
eXpressible compassion the sensitive heart
|
at the sight of the unspeakablc sufferings
to which he was exposed, Peter Claver
solicited, as q favor, permission to render
| to the negroes all the services their lament
able condition required. Having obtained
the permission which he so ardently de-
sired, he devoted himself body and soul to
| the laboriOus but admirable mission of
attending to the physical and moral wounds
of men redeemed by the blood of n God.
though nevertheless treated by their fellow
beings as the refuse of creation.
But, as if the daily sacrifices of n life
spent in the midst of these british beings.
| and in their infectious habitations, could
rot satisfy his zeal, when called upon to
pronounce in quality of religious his final
| and solemn engagements, he added to his
other vows that of attending the slaves till
death. Thus, henceforth, until death. he
Will no longer have right to love any
other than those poor negroes, or strength
but to devote to their service. Scarcely
had a slave vessel arrived at the port of
Carthagena than our Saint hastened to the
spot and assisted the unfortunate passen-
gers to descend from their floating prison,
carrying in his arms the sick and placing
| them In the wagons which, through his
care, had been prepared to receive them.
he then accompanied them to their habita-
tons, dressed their sores, poured perfume
on their infectious ulcers, and by his com
posed and smiling countenance, quoted the
| Va '.iosc hSWiy NusefloaTkeu slaves,
who imagined themselves destined to red
den with their blood the keel of every Eu
| ropean vessel.
In the beginning he was wont to speak TO
them through an interpreter, but as the
! heartisfor-Iiie mind an admirable auxiliary
he soon understood their language. How
happy were they when they could ee and
hear him How powerfully persuasive
were his least words, accompanied as tlsS
We're by multiplied acts of the most heroic
devotednessl When he met in the street a
negro advanced in years" Remember. INV
fr'snd," would he say to him, the house
| Is already old and threatens ruin; 40 to