Peter was a Spaniard and joined the Society of Jesus at the age of twenty. His major dream was to be a missionary in South America. With the blessings of his parents and superiors, Peter sailed for the New World in 1610 and reached Carthagena in modern Colombia. It was a prosperous port city and a major centre for slave trade. The inhuman treatment of African slaves who were smuggled into Carthagena in squalid conditions and paraded in the city for sale broke the heart of Peter. After his ordination in 1616, he offered himself as the “slave of slaves” to provide medicine, food, encouragement and religious instruction to these unfortunate children of God, who were herded out of ships in chains and exposed to be auctioned like animals. Though Pope Paul III had condemned slave trade, the practice flourished due to human greed and avarice. For forty years Peter brought God’s saving love to these victims and, to some extent, restored their human dignity. Oppositions and criticisms were not lacking as pessimists and slave owners alike combined to wreck his ministry. But Peter stood firm in his commitment. By 1650 he was worn out physically and then a plague paralyzed him partially. From then on Peter remained inactive and virtually neglected by everyone till the Lord offered him eternal rest in heaven in 1654. The canonization of this Apostle of the slaves took place in 1888.
Reflection: All of us may not be called upon to undertake spectacular works to end all the evils that plague society. However, the Lord offers every one ample opportunity to minister to the victims of these evils and mitigate their sufferings.
We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips. (St. Peter Claver)
