Saint Peter Claver

Saint Peter Claver, Apostle to Slaves and Human Rights Defender

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Peter Claver. Saint Peter was ordained a priest, and thereafter dedicated his life caring for the slaves brought to Cartagena, Colombia, then the center of the slave trade in South America. He and a few other followers would meet the boats that would bring in thousands of slaves, and they would care for them. They would bring water, food, and care for the sick and dying. Out of the 10,000 slaves brought in every year, a third would die in the ships because of the horrible conditions. Although Pope Paul III and Urban VIII issued papal decrees condemning slavery, the business flourished. Obviously, the slave traders did not see these black men and women as fellow human beings, or they would not kidnapped them from their homes in Africa, herded them into filthy ships, fed them once a day and allowed them to wallow in their own excrement and terror for several months. 

Today, there are still people who think  of fellow human beings as commodities, or collateral damage. Sexual traffickers kidnap children and women, destroying their lives for their own gain. And here in our own country, young and old are murdered in the name of an unjust war against drugs. 

Lord, may we like Saint Peter Claver, do whatever we can, wherever we are, to love our brothers and sisters, created in Your image, beloved by You. May we fight for the rights of those less privileged than we are, help in whatever way we can, that they might live in dignity. May we not be indifferent to the suffering of others around us, and may we have courage to speak out against what is so clearly wrong.