Lorenzo Ruiz
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| Saint Lorenzo Ruiz | |
|---|---|
 (I am a Catholic and I wholeheartedly accept to die for God. If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them all up to Him.) |
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| First Filipino Saint | |
| Born | 1600s, Binondo, Manila, Philippines  |
| Died | 29 September 1637, Nishizaka, 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 | Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila, Philippines |
| Feast | 29 September |
| Attributes | rosary in clasped hands |
| Patronage | Filipino youth, Chinese-Filipinos, the Philippines, Overseas Filipino Workers, people living in poverty. |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, aka San Lorenzo de Manila (1600 – September 29, 1637) is the first Filipino saint (protomartyr) venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. He was martyred during persecution of Japanese Christians under the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 17th century.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Binondo, Manila, Lorenzo Ruiz was of mixed Chinese and Filipino descent (mestizo). His Chinese father taught him Chinese, and his Filipino mother taught him Tagalog. Both of his parents were Catholic.[1][2][1][3][4]
Ruiz served as an altar boy at the convent of Binondo church. After being educated by the Dominican friars for a few years, Ruiz earned the title of escribano (stenographer) because of his skillful hand and unsurpassed penmanship. He became a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. In 1636, while working as a clerk at the Binondo Church, Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Prior to this incident, his life with his Filipino wife, two sons and a daughter was peaceful, religious and full of contentment. But after the allegation, Ruiz 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. Ruiz and his companions left for Japan on June 10, 1636 with the aid of the Dominican fathers and Sr. Domingo Gonzales.[1][2][3][4]
[edit] Exile to Japan
The boat landed at Okinawa and the group was arrested and persecuted based on their Christian religion. They were brought to Nagasaki on July 10, 1636. They were tortured through hanging by their feet, by submerging in water until near death, and by water torture. Needles were also inserted under their finger nails and they were beaten until unconscious. These methods made some of Ruiz's companions recant their faith, but Ruiz never did. On September 27, 1637, Ruiz and his companions were taken to the "Mountain of Martyrs", where they were hung upside down into a pit known as horca y hoya. This mode of torture was considered as the most painful way to die at the time because it involved the use of rocks to add weight to the person being punished. The individual being tortured suffocated quickly while being crushed by his own weight. Two days after, Ruiz died from hemorrhage and suffocation. His body was cremated and his ashes were thrown into the sea.[1][2][3][4]
[edit] Path to sainthood
Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified in Manila on February 18, 1981 by Pope John Paul II during his Papal visit to Manila, the first beatification ceremony held outside the Vatican. San Lorenzo Ruiz was elevated to Sainthood and canonized by Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City, Rome on October 18, 1987. "San Lorenzo Ruiz" became the first Filipino saint and martyr.[1][2][3][4]
[edit] 20th anniversary
On September 29, 2007, the Catholic Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of Ruiz’ canonization in 1987. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said: “Kahit saan nandoon ang mga Pilipino, ang katapatan sa Diyos ay dala-dala ng Pinoy (Wherever the Filipino may go, he carries his faith in God).”[5]
[edit] See also
- Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, New York
- Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan
- Jeronima de la Asuncion
- Pontificio Collegio Filippino
- Three Fertility Saints of Obando, Bulacan, Philippines
- Martha de San Bernardo, the first Filipino nun
[edit] Books about San Lorenzo Ruiz
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Visit of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Participate in the 2005 World Summit - High Level plenary session of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, United States of America, 12-15 September, 2005", Press Kit, Office of the President, Government Mass Media Group, Bureau of Communications Services, Manila, September, 2005.
- ^ a b c d Filipino Apostolate/Archdiocese of New York, Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz, ChapelofSanLorenzoRuiz.org, retrieved on: 9 June 2007
- ^ a b c d Saint Lorenzo Ruiz at Patron Saints Index, retrieved on: 10 June 2007
- ^ a b c d Religion-Cults.com Dominguez, J, M.D., September 28: Saints of the Day, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions, 1600-1637, Religion-Cults.com, retrieved on: 10 June 2007
- ^ Inquirer.net, Church marks 20th anniversary of Lorenzo Ruiz sainthood
