Lorenzo Ruiz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Lorenzo Ruiz | |
|---|---|
 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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| Protomartyr of the Philippines | |
| Born | c.1600-1610, Binondo, Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Died | 29 September 1637, Nagasaki, Japan |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 18 February 1981, Manila, Philippines by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 18 October 1987, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Binondo Church in Binondo, Manila, Philippines |
| Feast | 28 September |
| Patronage | Filipino youth, Chinese-Filipinos, the Philippines, Overseas Filipino Workers, people living in poverty. |
 Saints Portal |
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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.
