St. Peter Claver - Icon Reproductions

For those who combat contemporary slavery and care for victims, we find inspiration in the life and work of St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit from Spain who came to the new world in 1610 and cared for African slaves for 40 years. Even as they entered into the port of Cartagena, St. Peter Claver would row out to the ships and start ministering to the slaves who had survived the trip. In caring for victims and survivors of slavery, St. Peter Claver understood the need to address their physical needs and that providing food and medicine was often more effective to communicate the love of God than just preaching. He was quoted as often saying "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips."