remembering the martyrdom of St.Lorenzo Ruiz- First Filipino Saint

Lorenzo Ruiz was Filipino, Although his father was Chinese and his mother, Filipina. He was born in Binondo, Manila between 1600 and 1610.

According to the documents cited to proclaim him "Blessed", his parents were devout Catholics. He was christened "Lorenzo" after a martyr during the 3rd century persecution of Christians. his surname "Ruiz" was taken from the last name of his godfather.

In his younger years, Lorenzo served at the convent of Binondo Church, Manila Philippines, as Sacristan.

After several years, Lorenzo Ruiz earned the title of "escribano" or notary. He became an active member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, an organization devoted to the Blessed Virgin. This group was organized in the Philippines in 1587.

Lorenzo got married but the name of his wife was not mentioned in the documents. He confessed before he was convicted that he was a family man - having a wife with three kids, two boys and a girl.

In 1636, a grave crime was committed in Manila. Authorities conducted a manhunt for Lorenzo because they believed he knew something about it or was himself involved in it. When Lorenzo learned of some missionary priests leaving for Japan, he asked if he could be allowed to join them. And he was allowed aboard the ship bound for Japan, along with the Dominicans, safe from fear of being implicated in a crime.

At that time, there was a wide scale persecution of Christians in Japan. All those who professed faith in God and served as missionaries were jailed and even up to death. Their lives were to be spared if they would renounce their Christian faith. But thousands of Christians chose death rather than renounce their belief in God. And Lorenzo Ruiz was among those who underwent such excruciating forms of persecution.

One of the forms of punishments imposed on Christians was "hanging in the pit" on the hills of Nagasaki. The victims' feet were tied to a beam, the body hanged upside down and the head occupied the amount of the pit. Lorenzo Ruiz went through this agonizing punishment when he refused to renounce his faith.

During the investigation, he answered: "I'm a Christian and I will remain a Christian even to the point of death. Only to God will I offer my life. Even if I had a thousand lives, I would still offer them to him. This is the reason why I came here in Japan, to leave my native land as a Christian, offering my life to God alone."

He was told that he would be put to death if he did not renounce his faith. He said he will never disown his identity as a Christian. It was on September 23, 1637 that he begun to undergo "hanging in the pit".

Lorenzo Ruiz was proclaimed " Blessed" in February 1981 at Luneta, together with 16 other companions, in connection with Pope John Paul II's Papal visit to the Philippines. Thus, of the 17 beatified, 10 were Japanese, 2 Spaniards, 1 Italian, 1 Frenchman. Ten were Dominican Priests, two Dominican brothers, two Dominican nuns, and four lay persons. Only Lorenzo Ruiz was married and head of a family.

He was canonized and declared a "Saint' on October 18, 1987 in Rome. As such, he is now worthy of being venerated and honoured in the Church Altar. His feast day falls on September 28.