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 Fifth Century of the Discovery & Evangelization of America St. Pedro Claver Scott 899 (1992) September 9 is the feast day for Saint Peter Claver. It falls one day after the anniversary of his death on September 8, 1654. The stamp shown above comes from the set issued in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the "Discovery and Evangelization of America". Pedro Claver y Corberó (Peter Claver) was a Spanish Jesuit priest, born in 1580 in Catalonia, Spain. He is known as the 'Apostle of the Negroes' for his work in Cartagena, Columbia on behalf of slaves brought there from Angola and Western Africa. Approximately 10,000 slaves arrived annually at Cartagena. Claver visited them, brought medicine, food and other supplies, and nursed the sick. He taught the slaves about Christianity and prepared them for baptism. It is suggested he baptized 300,000 slaves and heard 5,000 confessions annually. David Farmer states: "He also inspired them with some idea of their dignity and worth as men who were redeemed, in contrast with their appalling state of present misery."He visited the slaves where they worked in the mines and intervened on their behalf with civil authorities as well as mine and plantation owners to treat slaves humanely. In addition to declaring himself ‘the slave of the Negroes forever,’ Claver also visited hospitals and ministered to others in Cartagena, and he was well-known to traders and visitors to the port city. His health was poor during the last years of his life but he was able to welcome a successor to Cartagena to continue his work. Saint Peter Claver was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII. His burial site is located at the major shrine of the Church of St. Peter Claver, or in Spanish Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, located in Cartagena, Columbia. VPS Webmaster Marvin Lanahan visited the site in 2023 and shares photographs and experiences of his visit. 
 Facade of Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, Cartagena, Columbia The church was built between 1580 and 1654 and was dedicated to San Juan de Dios. It was later renamed for St. Peter Claver who worked among the poor of Cartagena, especially ministering to the African slaves who were brought there. Much of the facade stone came from the island of Tierrabomba, which is considered the richest and most monumental art works of the city. The white altar marble was imported from Italy. The body of St. Peter Claver was moved two times and was finally placed under the main altar where it lies today. The dome of the church was constructed in 1921 and there are statues of various saints along the sides of the interior walls. The church has an organ similar to St. John Lateran in Rome. 
 Altar, Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, Cartagena, Columbia There is a five-minute YouTube video in the References which provides a look at Saint Peter Claver and his efforts to maintain the dignity of slaves being brought to Columbia. REFERENCES: |
