Hello and welcome to Saint Stories for Kids, a weekly podcast full of fun stories and

facts about the holy men and women that have come before us. I'm your host

Chantal Baros. St. Visit W.W.

D. Shining Light Dolls to learn more and sign up to receive free coloring page printables

while you're there.

Today we'll be telling the story of St. Peter Claver, whose feast is celebrated on

September 9th.

Peter was born on June 26, 1581 in Spain.

Raised as a devout Catholic, Peter entered the Society of Jesus at age 20. The Porter of the College, St.

Alphonse Rodriguez, told Peter that God wanted him to travel to New Spain in the Americas

and work in the colonies there. So in 1610, Peter arrived in what is now Cartagena, Columbia.

Cartagena had already been a major slave trading port for many decades,

and even though the Pope spoke out against this great act of evil, it was still happening.

St. Peter Claver dedicated his life to helping the slaves. He would enter the slave trader's

ships at the port and tend to the people that had endured months of unspeakable horror.

Peter ministered to the sick and dying and it is estimated that he

cared for the 40 years he worked in Cartagena.

He cared for the slaves on the plantations around the city as well

and considered himself to be a slave to the slaves,

all in the name of Jesus.

St. Peter Claver offered kindness, food, medical care, and love to the slaves.

But more importantly, gave them hope that even though their earthly lives were full of unspeakable

...