Young Saint Peter Claver (1581-1654) had no idea that most of his life’s work would involve caring for African slaves. He was just the son of a Spanish farmer who was intelligent enough to study at the University of Barcelona and was accepted into the Jesuit order. Peter was somewhat timid by nature, and he was probably astonished when his community’s doorkeeper, of all people, prophesied that he would be sent to evangelize in South America. When the prediction came true and Peter’s superiors decided to send him to Colombia, he obeyed.