St. Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain, in 1580 to poor parents. He studied at the Jesuit college of Barcelona. While studying philosophy at Majorca, the young religious was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to go to the Indies and save "millions of perishing souls."
In 1610, he landed at Cartagena (modern day Colombia), the principal slave market of the New World, where thousands of slaves were landed every month. After his ordination in 1616, he dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the Negro slaves-a work that was to last for thirty-three years. He laboured unceasingly for the salvation of the African slaves and the abolition of the Negro slave trade.
Boarding the slave ships as they entered the Harbour, he would offer whatever poor refreshments he could afford; he would care for the sick and dying and instruct the slaves through Negro catechists before administering the Sacraments. Through his efforts three hundred thousand souls entered the Church. Furthermore, he did not lose sight of his converts when they left the ships but followed them to the plantations to which they were sent, encouraged them to live as Christians, and prevailed on their masters to treat them humanely.
Claver's work on behalf of slaves did not prevent him from ministering to the souls of well-to-do members of society, traders and visitors to Cartagena. He condemned criminals, many of whom he spiritually prepared for death; he was also a frequent visitor at the city's hospitals. Through years of unremitting toil and the force of his own unique personality, the slaves' situation slowly improved. In time, he became a moral force, the Apostle of Cartagena.
During the last years of his life, Peter was too ill to leave his room. He lingered for four years, largely forgotten and neglected, physically abused and starved by an ex-slave who had been hired by the Superior of the house to care for him. He never complained about this, accepting it as a just punishment for his sins. Peter died on 8 September 1654.
Peter was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, along with the holy Jesuit porter, Alphonsus Rodriguez. In 1896 Pope Leo also declared Claver the patron of missionary work among all African peoples. His body is preserved and venerated in the church of the Jesuit residence, now renamed in his honour.
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia declared September 9 as the Human Rights national Day in his honour.
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Alexander of Sabine
2. Saint George Douglas
3. Saint Mary of Colonna
4. Saint Valentinian of Chur
5. Saint Tibarius