28/09/2026
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ด: ๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐๐ถ๐, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฟ, Patron Saint of FIlipino Youth, Overseas Filipino Workers, and the first Filipino Saint
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino Saint. He was born in Manila to a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians. Thus he learned Chinese and Tagalog from them, and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He became a professional calligrapher, and was a full member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary under Dominicans. He married and had two sons and a daughter. But his life took a big turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing more is known except a statement of two Dominicans that โhe was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him.โ At that time, three Dominican priests were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, and a layman. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan.
They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa (now Taiwan), but, he said, โI decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there.โ In Japan they were soon found out, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution, and Lorenzo including his companions were not spared. They were sent to be tortured.
After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears. The superior, Fr. Gonzalez, died after some days. Both Fr. Shiwozuka and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions.
In Lorenzo's moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, โI would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life.โ The interpreter was noncommittal, but in the ensuing hours Lorenzo felt his faith grow strong. Boards fitted with semi-circular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were hang for three days, and by that time, Lorenzo and one companion were dead. Still alive, the three priests were then beheaded.
In 1987, Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others: Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa, and Japan. St. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr, and is honored as the Patron Saint of Filipino Youth and Overseas Filipino Workers.
(Sources: Franciscan Media, Pintakasi PH)
St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us!