Peter Claver

Saint Peter Claver, S.J.,(Spanish: Pedro Claver y Cor- slaves who were brought from Africa. beró, Catalan: Pere Claver i Corberó) (26 June 1581 By this time, the slave trade had been established in the – 8 September 1654) was a Spanish Jesuit priest and Americas for about a century. Local natives were consid- missionary born in Verdú (Catalonia) who, due to his life ered not physically suited to work in the gold and silver and work, became the patron saint of slaves, the Republic mines and this created a demand for blacks from Angola of Colombia and ministry to African Americans. During and Congo. These were bought in West Africa for four the 40 years of his ministry in Colombia it is estimated crowns a head, or bartered for goods and sold in Amer- he personally baptized around 300,000 people. He is also ica for an average two hundred crowns apiece. Criminals, patron saint for seafarers. war captives, the mentally unstable, the sick and various social misfits were bartered to the white traders by the African chiefs. Others were captured at random, espe- 1 Early life cially able-bodied males and females deemed suitable for labor.[3] Claver was born in 1581 into a devoutly Catholic and Cartagena was a slave-trading hub. 10,000 slaves poured prosperous farming family in the Catalan village of into the port yearly, crossing the Atlantic from West Verdú,[1] Urgell, located in the Province of Lleida, about Africa under conditions so foul that an estimated one- 54 miles (87 km) from Barcelona. He was born 70 years third died in transit. Although the slave trade was con- after King Ferdinand of Spain set the colonial slavery demned by Pope Paul III and Urban VIII had issued a pa- culture into motion by authorizing the purchase of 250 pal decree prohibiting slavery,[3] (later called “supreme African slaves in Lisbon for his territories in New Spain, villainy” by Pope Pius IX), it was a lucrative business and an event which was to shape Claver’s life. continued to flourish.[2] Later, as a student at the University of Barcelona,[1] Claver’s predecessor in his eventual lifelong mission, Claver was noted for his intelligence and piety. After two Father Alonso de Sandoval, S.J., was his mentor and years of study there, Claver wrote these words in the note- inspiration.[2] Sandoval devoted himself to serving the book he kept throughout his life: “I must dedicate myself slaves for 40 years before Claver arrived to continue his to the service of God until death, on the understanding work. Sandoval attempted to learn about their customs that I am like a slave.” and languages; he was so successful that, when he re- turned to Seville, he wrote a book in 1627 about the na- ture, customs, rites and beliefs of the Africans. Sandoval found Claver an apt pupil. When he was solemnly pro- 2 In New Spain fessed in 1622, Claver signed his final profession docu- ment in Latin as: Petrus Claver, aethiopum semper servus After he had completed his studies, Claver entered the (Peter Claver, servant of the Ethiopians [i.e. Africans] Society of Jesus in Tarragona at the age of 20. When he forever). had completed the novitiate, he was sent to do his study of philosophy at Palma, Mallorca. While there, he came to know the porter of the college, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a laybrother known for his holiness and gift of prophecy. 3 Ministry to the slaves Rodriguez felt that he had been told by God that Claver was to spend his life in service in the colonies of New Whereas Sandoval had visited the slaves where they Spain, and he frequently urged the young student to ac- [1] worked, Claver preferred to head for the wharf as soon cept that calling. as a slave ship entered the port. Boarding the ship, he Claver volunteered for the Spanish colonies and was sent entered the filthy and diseased holds to treat and minis- to the New Kingdom of Granada, where he arrived in the ter to their badly treated, terrified human cargo, who had port city of Cartagena in 1610.[2] Required to wait six survived a voyage of several months under horrible con- years to be ordained as a priest while he did his theological ditions. It was difficult to move around on the ships, be- studies, he lived in Jesuit houses at Tunja and Bogotá. cause the slave traffickers filled them to capacity. The During those preparatory years, he was deeply disturbed slaves were often told they were being taken to a land by the harsh treatment and living conditions of the black where they would be eaten. Claver wore a cloak, which

1 2 5 LEGACY

Church of St. Peter Claver in Cartagena, Colombia, where The bones of Claver under an altar at the Church of St. Peter Claver lived and ministered Claver in Cartagena he would lend to anyone in need. A legend arose that for him. He never complained about his treatment, ac- whoever wore the cloak received lifetime health and was cepting it as a just punishment for his sins.[5] He died on cured of all disease. After the slaves were herded from 8 September 1654. the ship and penned in nearby yards to be scrutinized When the people of the city heard of his death, many by crowds of buyers, Claver joined them with medicine, forced their way into his room to pay their last respects. food, bread, brandy, lemons and tobacco. With the help Such was his reputation for holiness that they stripped of interpreters and pictures which he carried with him, he away anything to serve as a relic of the saint.[5] gave basic instructions.[4] The city magistrates, who had previously considered him Claver had conflicts with some of his Jesuit brothers who a nuisance for his persistent advocacy on behalf of the accepted slavery. Claver saw the slaves as fellow Chris- slaves, ordered a public funeral and he was buried with tians, encouraging others to do so as well. During his 40 pomp and ceremony. The vast scope of Claver’s min- years of ministry it is estimated that he personally cate- istry, which was prodigious even before considering the chized and baptized 300,000 slaves. He would then fol- astronomical number of people he baptized, came to be low up on them to ensure that as Christians they received realized only after his death. their Christian and civil rights. His mission extended be- yond caring for slaves, however. He preached in the city He was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, along with square, to sailors and traders and conducted country mis- the holy Jesuit porter, Alphonsus Rodriguez. In 1896 sions, returning every spring to visit those he had bap- Pope Leo also declared Claver the patron of missionary tized, ensuring that they were treated humanely. During work among all African peoples.[1] His body is preserved these missions, whenever possible he avoided the hospi- and venerated in the church of the former Jesuit resi- tality of planters and overseers; instead, he would lodge dence, now renamed in his honor.[6] in the slave quarters. Claver’s work on behalf of slaves did not prevent him from ministering to the souls of well-to-do members of 5 Legacy society, traders and visitors to Cartagena (including Mus- lims and English Protestants) and condemned criminals, The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. is the largest African- many of whom he prepared for death; he was also a fre- American Catholic fraternal organization in the United quent visitor at the city’s hospitals. Through years of un- States. In 2006, a unit was established in San Andres, remitting toil and the force of his own unique personality, Colombia, South America. The Order was founded in the slaves’ situation slowly improved. In time he became Mobile, Alabama and is presently headquartered in New a moral force, the Apostle of Cartagena. Orleans.[3] Among the parishes dedicated to St. Peter Claver are those in Lexington, Kentucky,[7] West Hart- 4 Illness, and death ford, Connecticut,[8] Macon, Georgia,[9] New Orleans, Louisiana,[10] Simi Valley, California,[11] St. Paul, [12] In the last years of his life Peter was too ill to leave his Minnesota, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Montclair, New room. He lingered for four years, largely forgotten and Jersey, and Baltimore, Maryland.There is also a church neglected, physically abused and starved by an ex-slave in Nairobi, Kenya, named after St. Peter Claver. who had been hired by the Superior of the house to care St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School is located in 3

Decatur, Georgia.[13] The oldest African American school in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and the oldest African American school still functioning in the State of Florida, is the St. Peter Claver Catholic School.[14] Though Claver is no longer with us in body, his mission continues today in the work of the Apostleship to the Sea (AoS).[15] His intercession and inspiration are with all the port chaplains and those who visit ships in the name of Christ and his Church through the AoS.

6 References

[1] Suau, Pierre. “St. Peter Claver.” The Catholic Encyclo- pedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 2 Apr. 2013

[2] Foley OFM, Leonard. Saint of the day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast, (revised by Pat McCloskey OFM), Franciscan Media, ISBN 978-0-86716-887-7

[3] “St. Peter Claver”, Knights of Peter Claver

[4] “St. Peter Claver”

[5] “St. Peter Claver, S.J.”, Ignatian Spirituality

[6] Lonely Planet “Cartagena Sights”

[7]

[8] Church of St. Peter Claver, West Hartford, Connecticut

[9] St. Peter Claver Church, Macon, Georgia

[10] St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, New Orleans

[11] St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Simi Valley

[12] St. Peter Claver Parish, St. Paul, Minnesota

[13] St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School

[14] St. Peter Claver Catholic School, Tampa, Florida

[15] http://www.alivepublishing.co.uk/bible-alive-articles/ st-peter-claver-patron-saint-of-seafarers

7 External links

• Knights of Peter Claver

• San Pedro Claver, Caribenet • Apostleship to the Sea (AoS) 4 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text

• Peter Claver Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Claver?oldid=627690623 Contributors: Wesley, Danny, Fredbauder, Hephaestos, Sannse, JASpencer, Fibonacci, Francs2000, Gentgeen, RedWolf, Raeky, HaeB, Filceolaire, Jonel, Gscshoyru, Klemen Kocjancic, Rich Farmbrough, YUL89YYZ, Smalljim, Man vyi, Polylerus, A2Kafir, FeanorStar7, Hailey C. Shannon, Cuchullain, Timsj, Rjwilmsi, RexNL, Karelj, Pevernagie, Jaraalbe, Briaboru, Superslum, Evrik, Rwxrwxrwx, Staffelde, NielsenGW, T. Anthony, SmackBot, Carl.bunderson, Ludi, Chris the speller, Bluebot, Mitsuhirato, Chlewbot, Andymeyer, Stewart king, BrownHairedGirl, JHunterJ, Dingopup, Bwpach, PaulGS, Iridescent, Joseph Solis in Australia, CapitalR, Angeldeb82, Jcaragonv, Vaquero100, Cydebot, Damifb, Bookgrrl, Alabama- gene, Thijs!bot, Epbr123, Lopakhin, James086, Juxtatype, Pete voelz, David Shankbone, JAnDbot, Sitethief, Sgr927, Gwern, Rickterp, DancingPenguin, J.delanoy, LordAnubisBOT, Bewareofdog, Bonadea, ABF, TallNapoleon, John Carter, LeaveSleaves, Zerged, SieBot, Chuck56, Theun k, Monegasque, Miniapolis, Fratrep, Afernand74, Roarboleda, Pinkadelica, ClueBot, The Thing That Should Not Be, Blanchardb, StigBot, Excirial, Jammy0002, BobertWABC, Riccardo Riccioni, Versus22, EstherLois, DumZiBoT, AidanP02, RogDel, Jovianeye, Addbot, Staudt576, Glane23, Numbo3-bot, Lightbot, Teles, Zorrobot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Roltz, KBurchfiel, AnomieBOT, Taam, Ipatrol, Xqbot, Francis2559, Longbomb50, Vicenarian, Nixdave, RedBot, Daniel the Monk, RjwilmsiBot, DASHBot, EmausBot, Wikipelli, Akasseb, Jbribeiro1, Willthacheerleader18, ClueBot NG, Chester Markel, Tokvo, Mannanan51, Patogato, Helpful Pixie Bot, MrBill3, Hmainsbot1, VIAFbot, Johnfrancisgreen, Champbobber, Dmitry Erman, Iso859 and Anonymous: 110

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