Lorenzo Ruiz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Lorenzo Ruiz | |
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| Protomartyr of the Philippines | |
| Born | c.1600 in Binondo, Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Martyred | September 29, 1637 in Nagasaki, Japan |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | February 18, 1981 in Manila, Philippines |
| Canonized | October 18, 1987 in the Vatican |
| Feast | September 28 |
| A short hymn or prayer I am a Catholic and happy to die for God. If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them to God. |
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- For the municipality in the Philippines, see San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (c.1600 – September 29, 1637), was born in Binondo, Manila. His Chinese father taught him Chinese, and his Filipino mother taught him Tagalog. Both of his parents were Catholic.
Lorenzo served at the convent of Binondo church as an altar boy. After a few years, Lorenzo earned the title of "escribano" (notary). He became a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. He was working as a clerk at the Binondo Church when he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard in 1636. Prior to that, his life with his Filipino wife and three children was one of peace, contentment, and religion. After the accusation, he sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests, Saint Antonio Gonzalez, Saint Guillermo Courtet, and Saint Miguel de Aozaraza, a Japanese priest, Saint Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Saint Lazaro of Kyoto, a leper. The boat landed at Okinawa and the group was arrested on basis of their Christian religion. They were tortured, but did not denounce their faith, and died as martyrs. Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified in Manila on February 18, 1981 by Pope John Paul II who canonized Lorenzo on October 18, 1987. Lorenzo's beatification was the first one outside the Vatican and is the first Filipino saint.
