Martin de Porres was born illegitimately to a Spanish nobleman and a Peruvian woman who was mixed Native American and black. She and he were free blacks. His father abandoned his family, including Martin, when he was still a young child. As he grew up, he became very devout and would spend hours in prayer. Martin became connected with the Dominican priests and brothers and wished to join their order. Because of Peruvian law, he was forbidden to become a full member of any religious order, but he was accepted as a lay brother who lived with the members. He became a barber in his teens and worked to support his Dominican brothers. Eventually, he was sent to work in a nursing home, where he worked until his death. Martin de Porres is the patron saint of Blacks, of barbers, of mixed-race people, and many others. 
    
The feast day of St. Martin de Porres is this Monday, Nov. 3.