If you plan to visit Cartagena, Colombia, there are many forts to see. There are statues of Christopher Columbus and uuhhh … “a fat lady”. (O.o) But if you have limited time and must choose between the forts and the statues and visiting Saint Peter Claver's church, visit the church.
The scriptures say, “Give honor to whom honor is due.” Peter Claver (1581 – 1654) was a Spanish priest. His physical remains still lie in the church. This man is to be remembered and honored for his efforts to abolish slavery. The Pope condemned it, but Peter Claver made a determined and conscientious effort to do something about it. He worked tirelessly at this goal for 40 years. He was so relentless that he was given the title of “apostle of the Negroes.” Finally, 200 years later, in 1851, President José Hilario López signed the law that abolished slavery in Colombia.
Additional bio facts about St. Peter Claver (1581–1654):
- Birthplace: Born on 26 June 1581 in Verdú, Catalonia, Spain, into a devout Catholic family.
- Education: Studied at the University of Barcelona, where he developed a strong religious vocation.
- Jesuit priest: Joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1602 and was ordained a priest in 1616.
- Mission to Africa's enslaved people: He travelled to Cartagena, in present-day Colombia, which was then a major centre of the transatlantic slave trade.
- A lifelong commitment: For approximately 40 years, he ministered to enslaved Africans arriving by ship.
- Practical compassion: He brought them food, water, medicine, and clothing, and cared for the sick and dying.
- Communication: He learned African languages and used interpreters to communicate with those he served.
- A remarkable declaration: He described himself as “the slave of the slaves forever” (often translated as “the slave of the Negroes forever”).
- Opposition and criticism: His work was not universally welcomed. Some wealthy citizens and slave traders resented his attention to enslaved people.
- Beyond the docks: He also visited hospitals, cared for leprosy patients, and ministered to prisoners of war.
- A remarkable achievement: Historical accounts credit him with instructing and baptizing approximately 300,000 enslaved Africans.
- Death: He died in Cartagena on 8 September 1654, after years of illness.
- Feast day: His annual feast day is celebrated on September 9.
- Legacy: He is recognised as the patron saint of enslaved people and African missions, and is remembered as a symbol of compassion, human dignity and service.
Sources for further reading:
Regarding Saint Peter Claver's church in Cartagena, Colombia:
- Historic origins: Built by the Jesuits in the early 1600s, it was originally dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola.
- The final resting place: St. Peter Claver's remains lie beneath the main altar of the church.
- A living memorial: The adjoining monastery contains the room where Claver lived and died, now preserved as part of a museum.
