“Heroic” ministry of St. Peter Claver: Colombia’s patron saint

(Vatican Radio) Grant Jones, head of the Knights of St. Peter Claver lay Catholic organization, spoke about the “heroic ministry” of the 17th century saint who dedicated most of his life to caring for African slaves and advocating for the abolition of the slave trade.

His comments came just ahead of Pope Francis’ visit on Sunday to the shrine of St Peter Claver and to the church named after him in the Colombian city of Cartagena. Grant was interviewed by Susy Hodges.

Listen to the interview with Grant Jones, Executive Director of the Knights of St Peter Claver, a lay Catholic organization:

As many as 50 percent perished

Originally from Spain, Claver came to Colombia in 1610, became a Jesuit priest and devoted his entire life to serving the slaves who were brought from Africa to the port of Cartagena. Grant  said the conditions in the hold of the slave ships --  where the slaves were stacked up “like cordwood”--  were so appalling that often “as many as 50 percent of them perished” during the voyage across the Atlantic. It was on viewing these horrific conditions, said Grant, that the young Jesuit priest “was inspired” to help the African slaves.

Nursed them back to health

Peter Claver helped care for the sick among the slaves and “nursed them back to health” and in so doing “exposed them to Christianity.” Grant said it is estimated that the Jesuit priest personally baptized around 300 thousand Africans. Claver also was constantly urging the plantation owners to treat the slaves more humanely and campaigned for the abolition of the African slave trade.

Shunned by the rest of society

Grant said Peter Claver’s ministry to the African slaves was “heroic” on many levels and the priest paid a heavy price in terms of the damage to his own reputation. “He went against the grain and ……. he was shunned by the rest of society for his engagement with the slaves.”