Topic for September: Human Rights
Saint of the month: St. Peter Claver
St. Peter Claver, SJ (1581-1654) is the patron of African missions and of interracial justice, due to his work with slaves in Colombia. Between the years 1616 and 1650, Peter Claver worked daily to minister to the needs of the 10,000 slaves who arrived each year.
When a ship arrived, Peter first begged for fruits, biscuits, or sweets to bring to the slaves. He then went on board with translators to bring his gifts as well as his skills as a doctor and teacher. Claver entered the holds of the ships and would not leave until every person received a measure of care. Peter gave short instruction in the Catholic faith and baptised as many as he could. In this way he could prevail on the slave owners to give humane treatment to fellow Christians. Peter Claver baptised more than 300,000 slaves by 1651.
In the last years of his life Peter was too ill to leave his room. The ex-slave who was hired to care for him treated him cruelly, not feeding him many days, and never bathing him. Claver never complained. He was convinced that he deserved this treatment.
Points to emulate:
Modern forms of slavery can include debt bondage, child slavery, forced marriage, domestic servitude and forced labour, where victims are made to work through violence and intimidation.
Quote: “We must speak to them with our hands before we speak to them with our lips.”
Prayer to St. Peter Claver
Lord, for love of you St. Peter Claver became the faithful servant of slaves. Through his prayer help us to see the true dignity of the human family, all children of one father and to spend ourselves for their salvation. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
(Below is the SiSwati version of the same post)
Inyoni: Emalungelo Eluntfu
Santa Locwebile: Phetro Claver Locwebile
Phetro Claver Locwebile ungumncuseli wemisebenti yekutfunywa eAfrica newebulungiswa betekwehlukana ngelibala ngalokusebenta kwakhe netigcili eColombia. Emkhatsini weminyaka 1616 na 1650 Phetro bekasebenta malanga onkhe kunakekela tidzingo tetigcili letingu 10,000 labetifika minyaka yonkhe.
Nakufika umkhumbi Phetro bekacala ngekucela titselo, imicatsane noma tinongonongo kutsi aletsele letigcili. Wabese ugibela nebahumushi kutsi aletse tipho takhe kanye nemakhono akhe ekwelapha nekufundzisa. Claver abengena emagumbini alemikhumbi angaphumi kute kube lapho wonkhe umuntfu asatfolile kunakekelwa kwakakhe. Phetro abefundzisa kafisha ngenkholo yebuKhatholika wabhabhatisa labanyenti. Ngalendlela abengakwati kuphocelela banikati betigcili kutsi mane baphatse ngebuntfu emaKhristu lamanye. Phetro Claver wabhabhatisa ngetulu kwa 300,000 wetigcili kufika ku 1651.
Eminyakeni yekugcina kwemphilo yakhe Phetro besekagula kakhulu angasaphumi endlini. Lowake wabasigcili labecashwe kutsi amnakekele wamphatsa kabuhlungu, angamondli tinsuku letinyenti angamgezi. Claver akatange abalise. Watitjela kutsi imfanele lemphatfo leyo.
Tintfo tekucabangisisa:
Tinhlobo tesimanje tebugcili kungaba kubanjwa ngetikweleti, kugcilatwa kwebantfwana, kwendziswa, kusebenta kamuntfu ungaholi nekusetjentiswa ngekucindzetelwa, lapho khona labantfu basetjentiswa ngeludlame nekwesatjiswa.
“Sibobakhulumisa ngetandla tetfu ngembili kwekubakhulumisa ngetindzebe.”