Post by ConsumingFire on Jun 14, 2015 22:12:13 GMT -8
Today in church a couple things were discussed in our reading of 1 Peter 2:18-25, but the topic of focus was Gospel Submission, and during the course of the sermon we were given a list of Christians who stood up for those suffering under injustice. This list stood out to me and I felt it appropriate to talk about these people here.
So with that said, the list is as follows:
I'll be posting about one of these people every day for the next four days as long as I'm not otherwise occupied.
Peter Caver
Peter Claver (Spanish: Pedro Claver y Corberó, Catalan: Pere Claver i Corberó) was born in Verdú, Catalonia, on June 26, 1581 to a prosperous Catholic family. While little is known of his early years, it is known that he studied for two years at the University of Barcelona, where he was noted for his piety and intellect. In 1601 he entered the Society of Jesus in Tarragona, and after he had completed the novitiate, was sent to study philosophy at Palma, Mallorca. While there, he met and befriended Alphonsus Rodriquez, a laybrother known for his holiness as well as his gift of prophecy, and it was Alphonsus with whom Peter shared a spiritual model of life focused on "suffering with Christ". Alphonsus felt that he had been told by God that Peter was to spend his life in service to the colonies of New Spain, and so frequently urged Peter to accept this calling, which he eventually did. Peter volunteered for the Spanish colonies and was sent to the New Kingdom of Granada, where he arrived to the port city of Cartagena in 1610. He was required to wait six years to be ordained as a priest while studying theology and lived in Jesuit houses in Tunja and Bogotá, and it was during these formative years that Peter was deeply disturbed by the harsh treatment inflicted upon the African slaves brought to Cartagena. During this period, Peter's predecessor, Father Alonso de Sandoval, S. J., was his mentor and source of inspiration.
Later, after Peter had begun his ministry, he preached to the slaves, whom he viewed as fellow Christians, and because of this had conflicts with other Jesuits who accepted slavery whom he encouraged to view slaves as he did. Peter's ministry lasted for 40 years, and it is said that he personally catechized and baptized 300,000 slaves with whom he would later follow up and ensure that they received their civil rights and Christian mentoring. He would return to them every Spring in order to ensure that they were treated humanely. During his ministering to slaves, Peter would often attempt to avoid the hospitality of slaveholders and planters and would instead lodge within the slave quarters. Peter also extended his ministry to traders, sailors, visitors, criminals (many of whom he prepared for death) and other members of society.
During his final years, Peter was too old and ill to leave his room, and lingered in sickness and mistreatment for four years before dying on September 8th, 1654.
"I must dedicate myself to the service of God until death, on the understanding that I am like a slave." ~Peter Claver, in a notebook he kept and wrote in throughout his life.
So with that said, the list is as follows:
- Peter Caver (1581 - 1654)
- Henri Grégoire (1750 - 1831)
- William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833)
- John Newton (1725 - 1807)
- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
I'll be posting about one of these people every day for the next four days as long as I'm not otherwise occupied.
Peter Caver
Peter Claver (Spanish: Pedro Claver y Corberó, Catalan: Pere Claver i Corberó) was born in Verdú, Catalonia, on June 26, 1581 to a prosperous Catholic family. While little is known of his early years, it is known that he studied for two years at the University of Barcelona, where he was noted for his piety and intellect. In 1601 he entered the Society of Jesus in Tarragona, and after he had completed the novitiate, was sent to study philosophy at Palma, Mallorca. While there, he met and befriended Alphonsus Rodriquez, a laybrother known for his holiness as well as his gift of prophecy, and it was Alphonsus with whom Peter shared a spiritual model of life focused on "suffering with Christ". Alphonsus felt that he had been told by God that Peter was to spend his life in service to the colonies of New Spain, and so frequently urged Peter to accept this calling, which he eventually did. Peter volunteered for the Spanish colonies and was sent to the New Kingdom of Granada, where he arrived to the port city of Cartagena in 1610. He was required to wait six years to be ordained as a priest while studying theology and lived in Jesuit houses in Tunja and Bogotá, and it was during these formative years that Peter was deeply disturbed by the harsh treatment inflicted upon the African slaves brought to Cartagena. During this period, Peter's predecessor, Father Alonso de Sandoval, S. J., was his mentor and source of inspiration.
Later, after Peter had begun his ministry, he preached to the slaves, whom he viewed as fellow Christians, and because of this had conflicts with other Jesuits who accepted slavery whom he encouraged to view slaves as he did. Peter's ministry lasted for 40 years, and it is said that he personally catechized and baptized 300,000 slaves with whom he would later follow up and ensure that they received their civil rights and Christian mentoring. He would return to them every Spring in order to ensure that they were treated humanely. During his ministering to slaves, Peter would often attempt to avoid the hospitality of slaveholders and planters and would instead lodge within the slave quarters. Peter also extended his ministry to traders, sailors, visitors, criminals (many of whom he prepared for death) and other members of society.
During his final years, Peter was too old and ill to leave his room, and lingered in sickness and mistreatment for four years before dying on September 8th, 1654.
"I must dedicate myself to the service of God until death, on the understanding that I am like a slave." ~Peter Claver, in a notebook he kept and wrote in throughout his life.