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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
June 26, 1580–September 8, 1654
Patron Saint of the Knights of Peter Claver, Slaves, Colombia, race relations, missionaries, and ministry to African peoples
St. Peter Claver is remembered as an advocate for justice and compassion and a proponent of human dignity. Born in the village of Verdú, in Catalonia, Spain, in 1580, he entered the Society of Jesus as a young man and prepared for missionary work. During his formation, he was deeply influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a humble Jesuit brother who made an impact on Peter’s missionary vocation.
Peter was sent to Cartagena, in present-day Colombia, one of the busiest slave-trading ports in the Spanish Empire. Each year, thousands of enslaved Africans arrived there after enduring brutal conditions during the voyage across the Atlantic. While slavery was accepted by many in society, Peter saw each person as a beloved child of God deserving respect, care, and spiritual attention.
Ordained a priest in 1616, Peter spent his life ministering to the enslaved. He famously signed his profession as “Peter Claver, slave of the slaves forever.” Whenever slave ships arrived, he boarded them, carrying food, water, medicine, clothing, and religious items. He cared for the sick, comforted the dying, and worked through interpreters to catechize them in the Catholic Faith. His ministry extended to plantations, prisons, and hospitals, continuing to serve those in need.
For more than 40 years, St. Peter Claver tirelessly advocated for the humane treatment of enslaved people through his preaching and talks with slave traders, owners, and overseers. Offering slaves both practical assistance and spiritual care, his work challenged the social values of his age.
In his final years, illness left him physically weakened and dependent on others. Though his care was severely neglected, he endured suffering with humility and faith. He died on September 8, 1654.
St. Peter Claver was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888. His patronage includes race relations, African people, and the enslaved.
Before traveling to the missions, Peter Claver studied in Majorca, where he met St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Jesuit brother who served as porter at a Jesuit college. Though Alphonsus held a humble position, he was known for his deep prayer life and spiritual wisdom. He encouraged Peter to consider missionary service in the New World and helped him discern God’s call. Their friendship had a profound impact on Peter’s vocation. After Alphonsus’s death, Peter continued to draw inspiration from his example of humility, obedience, and love for souls. Both saints were canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.
Enslaved people arriving in Cartagena in the 17th century came from various regions of Africa and spoke many different languages. To reach them effectively, Peter used interpreters who helped him explain the Christian Faith and offer spiritual instruction. He also used simple drawings and relied heavily on universally understood hand gestures and acts of kindness, such as caring for wounds, providing food, and offering comfort. He frequently said, “We must first speak with our hands before we try to speak with our lips.” Upon boarding slave ships, he immediately bathed the sick, dressed wounds, and distributed food. He once wrapped a shivering man in his own cloak. These acts of charity often communicated God’s love more powerfully than words alone. He functioned as their doctor, spiritual father, and friend. His ministry demonstrated that genuine compassion could overcome many barriers of language and culture.
St. Peter Claver’s reputation for holiness spread widely after his death. He was canonized in 1888 and later declared a special patron of missionary work among African peoples. Numerous churches, schools, and charitable institutions around the world bear his name. In Cartagena, pilgrims continue to visit the church where his remains are preserved for veneration. His legacy has also inspired Catholic efforts to promote racial justice, defend human dignity, and serve marginalized communities throughout the world. He is the patron saint of the Knights of Peter Claver, a fraternal service order and the largest among Black Catholic fraternal organizations in the United States.
The Blessed Virgin Mary bore extreme pains throughout her life. And as the mother of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), she witnessed her Son’s Passion and Death on the Cross. This is why, as we face our own pains and temptations, we should turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and meditate on her Seven Dolors, or Sorrows.
This free eBook will encourage you to meditate on these Sorrows that pierced Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Use the form below to tell us where to send your free eBook, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Knights of Peter Claver is the largest and oldest African American Catholic lay organization. Fr. Joseph speaks with two of its members to learn how they are strengthening the family while engaging young adults in the life of the Church.
The “Saint to the Slaves”
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