Throughout his work, St. Claver survived on minimal amounts of food and sleep. His life of humility and penance led to miraculous occurrences — as when he healed the sick with the touch of his cloak or appeared surrounded by a supernatural light during his hospital visits.
During the 40 years of his ministry in the New Kingdom of Granada, it is estimated he personally baptized around 300,000 people and heard the confessions of over 5,000 people per year. He is also patron saint for seafarers. He is considered a heroic example of what should be the Christian praxis of love and of the exercise of human rights
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia declared September 9 as the National Day of Human Rights in his honor.
By the time the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years, Cartagena was a chief center for it. Ten thousand slaves poured into the port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit. Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Pope Paul III and later labeled “supreme villainy” by Pope Pius IX, it continued to flourish.
Peter Claver’s predecessor, Jesuit Father Alfonso de Sandoval, had devoted himself to the service of the slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his work, declaring himself “the slave of the Negroes forever.”
As soon as a slave ship entered the port, Peter Claver moved into its infested hold to minister to the ill-treated and exhausted passengers. After the slaves were herded out of the ship like chained animals and shut up in nearby yards to be gazed at by the crowds, Claver plunged in among them with medicines, food, bread, brandy, lemons, and tobacco. With the help of interpreters he gave basic instructions and assured his brothers and sisters of their human dignity and God’s love.
Fr. Claver’s apostolate extended beyond his care for slaves. He became a moral force, indeed, the apostle of Cartagena. He preached in the city square, gave missions to sailors and traders as well as country missions, during which he avoided, when possible, the hospitality of the planters and owners and lodged in the slave quarters instead.
After four years of sickness, which forced the saint to remain inactive and largely neglected, Claver died on September 8, 1654. The city magistrates, who had previously frowned at his solicitude for the black outcasts, ordered that he should be buried at public expense and with great pomp.
Peter Claver was canonized in 1888, and Pope Leo XIII declared him the worldwide patron of missionary work among black slaves.
PRAYER TO St. Peter Claver
As Pope Francis invites us this month to pray especially for those living on the margins of society, let us pray to St Peter Claver, who dedicated his whole life to this evangelical service.
St Peter Claver, chosen by the Lord for your good heart, you were an exemplar of humanity and a sower of the divine Word. May we know how to imitate your love for God and for our neighbour.
Because of your immense generosity, you became a citizen of the world to serve the poor, the sick and the forgotten. You dedicated yourself with love and respect, with simplicity, humility, patience and commitment, to the service of those who had been subjected to slavery. You made yourself “a slave of the slaves forever,” and you broke down all racial, religious, social and cultural prejudices. Make us also love our brothers and sisters through works and deeds, avoiding all forms of discrimination.
St Peter Claver, you were a faithful imitator of the example of Jesus in the midst of his own people. Teach us to bear witness to him, to become better people and not to ignore our fellow human beings, especially those who suffer because of their condition. We ask this of you through Jesus, the Christ, our Lord, our God and our brother, who lives with the Father and the Holy Spirit today and for ever.Amen.
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