San Martín de Porres: The mystical vision of a hairdresser, who helped bring him to the altars

August 25 is the International Day of the Hairdresser and Barber, a profession of which San Martín de Porres is the patron saint. That is why we tell you about the mystical vision that a hairdresser had who the saint trained and who helped take him to the altars.

in the book Life of San Martín de Porraswritten by the Jesuit priest Rubén Vargas, it is said that the saint became the benefactor and protector of a teenager named Juan Vázquez, who had fallen into poverty. The boy, coming from Spain, upon seeing that the friar was a barber, told him that he wanted to be his disciple and the saint accepted.

A great friendship arose between the two, so much so that Father Vargas indicates that Juan was “witness of so many wonders wrought by his hand” and even “he has contemplated him so many times bathed in light or elevated in the air that he does not hesitate to have him for holy.” That is why San Martín imposed on him to keep all this silent.

Juan accompanied the friar to visit the viceroy, who used to give alms to the saint. The president twice proposed to Juan that he become a soldier, something that pleased him very much.

The saint then sent his disciple to the port of Callao with a decree from the viceroy and on the way he met an ensign, who enrolled him in his company.

San Martín, treating Juan like a son, gave him a little money to support himself and told him that if any need arose, he should go to the convent.

Later, Juan became ill and went to look for Fray Martín. On the way he felt that his strength was no longer enough and he lay down on the ground. Suddenly the saint appeared, who examined his feet, said a prayer looking at heaven, stretched his legs and made the sign of the cross. In this way Juan recovered.

In 1639, Juan’s company had to set sail on a trip and the young barber began to provide himself with everything he needed. San Martín went to see him at the port of Callao and asked him not to leave, telling him that he would help him start a business, but Juan had already committed. Then the saint gave him a hug and told him the following prophecy.

“Goodbye, Juancho, in this century we will not see each other again and, if we did see each other, you will doubt that you have seen me,” he said. The young man left and some time later San Martín departed to heaven.

When the data for the beatification and canonization of the saint were collected, Juan was called to testify, but the notary asked him to be brief. However, Juan remained uneasy because he had a lot to say.

Years later, when he was holding his son in his arms, he heard someone calling him. He went out to the door of his house and saw two Dominican friars.

Without noticing anything in particular, he returned home, but again he heard someone calling him. When he left, he was surprised to find that San Martín was there, who told him: “Declare everything you know and saw during the time you were in my company.”

In 1671, Juan was called to testify at the convent and when he passed through the cemetery there, the saint appeared to him, who again asked him to tell everything he knew.

Juan’s valuable testimony contributed to the process so that San Martín could reach the altars.

Father Rubén Vargas emphasizes that the barber became “the author of the most authoritative and captivating account that has been left to us” of the life of the saint, who was beatified in 1837 and canonized in 1962.