The Blessed García Martínez
https://www.comendadorasdemalta.org/en/2021/01/comemoration-del-beato-garcia-martinez/ writes:
"On January 5, the “Comendadoras” commemorated Blessed García Martínez.
We only know about him that he was of Portuguese nationality and that his life was full of holiness.
His miracles began with his death in 1286. Two of these miracles are particularly remembered because they were spectacular.
When Doña Leonora, sister of King John of Portugal, went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, she stopped with all her entourage in Leça do Balio, a beautiful Romanesque church owned by the Order, and here for three days he venerated the relics of the Holy Knight. After giving her alms in her honor, she resumed her journey.
As soon as she left the city, a man whose legs were reduced to skin and bones following her example dragged himself to the tomb of the Saint, prayed fervently and fell asleep. When he woke up the cripple was healed and the legs were back to normal. Full of joy, he ran to the plain until he reached Doña Leonora to whom he told of the grace received, to everyone’s amazement. Doña Leonora returned to the monastery and for nine days she remained in prayer. An official document was drawn up to confirm her wonder and was signed by the princess and all the lords of the procession.
Another miracle concerned a blacksmith from Leça who, listening to the gossip and the tales of gossips, began to suspect that the young and beautiful wife had failed her wedding vows: and from that day on he covered her with reproaches, threats and beatings.
The desperate wife invoked the Blessed Garcia Martinez and, as proof of her innocence of her, she took in her hand a glowing plow from the flames of the forge, and she went quietly to place it on the tomb of the Blessed. After seeing his wife’s fingers miraculously intact, the husband had to acknowledge his mistake.
In the seventeenth century you could still see, hanging near the tomb of the Blessed Knight, the crutches of the cripple and the ploughshare, which testified to the power, goodness, understanding, courtesy and virtuous chivalry towards women."
It must be admitted that the saints of the Order have practiced a humility which is very embarrassing for historians, and that, as far as their virtues and power are concerned, they are much more explicit dead than alive!
Of the Blessed Frà Don Garcia Martinez we have learned only that he was of Portuguese nationality, a Commander of the five Kingdoms of Spain, and that his life was very holy. That is a all. But that is enough to cause the good people to come to pray at his tomb in the church of the monastery at Leza, the home of the Conventual Chaplains of the Obedience of our Order. Miracles began with his death in 1286.
Two of these miracles were particularly remembered because they were spectacular.
When Doña Leonora, sister of King John of Portugal, made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, she stopped at Leza with all her retinue, which included no less than three bishops - those of Visieu, Coimbra, and Oporto. The Princess venerated the relics of the holy Knight for three days. She gave liberal alms in his honour; then, her devotion satisfied, she resumed her return journey with all her train.
Now, as she had just left the city, a man whose legs had been no more than skin and bones dragged himself up to the tomb of the blessed Knight, prayed with fervour, and fell asleep. When he awoke from his lethargy, he was cured; his legs had been made whole and normal. Mad with joy, he ran down on to the plain on which the train of the Infanta snaked along, and, uttering shouts, told of the great miracle, to the great astonishment of the lords. Everyone retraced his steps and returned to the monastery. For nine days, Doña Leonora remained in prayer and had Masses celebrated and divine services performed in thanksgiving. An official document was drawn up to confirm the wonder. It was signed by the Princess, the bishops, and the lords of the retinue.
At another time, another miracle of a very medieval kind again upset the little city. A blacksmith of Leza, too, quick to listen to the gossip and tales of evil tongues, began to suspect his young and beautiful wife of having betrayed her marriage vows. Recriminations followed brutal remarks, shouts succeeded the recriminations, and threats (or perhaps worse?) came after the cries. The woman greatly exasperated invoked the Blessed García and, as proof of her innocence, took in her hand a glowing ploughshare from the flames of the forge, and went calmly to place it on the tomb of the saint.
Before those pretty fingers miraculously untouched, the husband had to admit his error. We hope that he knew how to apologize and do sweet penance for his evil thoughts.
In the seventeenth century, there could still be seen hanging near the sepulchre of the Blessed Knight the crutches of the cripple and the ploughshare which still bore witness to the power, the understanding goodness, and the virtuous hidalgo's courtesy toward women.
quoted from: Ducaud-Bourget, Msgr. François: The Spiritual Heritage of The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Vatican 1958
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