The Philippines is a country that has been known to hold on to the Catholic faith for many years despite its controversial introduction by the Spaniards. With 500 years of the Catholic faith thriving in the Philippines , there are at least a few saints that come from the country. The saint that many associate with the Philippines is Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. One of the most respected martyrs in Asia, Lorenzo is the patron saint of the Philippines, Filipino youth, altar servers, calligraphers and overseas workers.. In honor of Filipino History Month, here is the story of his life and why he is so important to Filipino Catholics today.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born in 1594 in Binondo, Manila. Growing up, he was educated by Dominican Friars and became very dedicated to his faith through them. He also learned how to read and write in both Spanish and Tagalog,which was considered rare for a native Filipino to learn at the time. During his time with the Dominicans, he was an altar server and calligrapher When he reached adulthood, Lorenzo married a woman named Rosario, and had three children with her: two sons and one daughter. During this time, he lived a peaceful life, and worked as a calligrapher and a notary for the Dominican covenant. Even before his eventual martyrdom, he was very devout to his faith and dedicated to God and his family.
However, this moment of peace did not last long. In 1636, he was accused of murdering a Spanish officialfor which he faced the death penalty. Due to this fear of death, Lorenzo Ruiz joined a group of Dominican missionaries that were travelling to Japan. At the time, Japan was a country actively persecuting and killing Catholics. To Lorenzo, this was a way to serve God amid the sudden hardships of accused murder. Along with four other priests, he departed to Japan in 1636, and was promptly captured only after a few months.During his imprisonment, Lorenzo was given the opportunity to denounce his faith to save his life, but he refused to do so. He was killed on September 29, 1637 at age 43.
In the days before his death, he had prayed for and encouraged his fellow prisoners. Despite the ruthless torture he faced,his last words were “I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God; had I a thousand lives, all these to Him shall I offer. Do with me as you please”. Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981, marking the first beatification in the Philippines. On October 18th, 1987 Saint Lorenzo was the first Filipino saint to be canonized.
Catholicism is a cornerstone of identity for many Filipinos which is part of the reason why Saint Lorenzo’s canonization was such an important milestone in the community. Many consider him a courageous and faithful man for standing up for his faith despite the unfortunate allegations of a crime he never committed and his painful martyrdom.
Nowadays, many Filipinos leave their country in search of a way to support their family and carve a better life for themselves, similar to Saint Lorenzo. In conclusion, Saint Lorenzo’s impact on the Filipino community cannot be emphasized enough. Saint Lorenzo, pray for us.