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The Unexpected Martyr: A Deep Dive into the Life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint

Welcome back to the blog, devout readers. Today, we delve into the extraordinary life of a man whose path to sainthood was anything but planned. He was not a priest, nor a monk, but a husband, a father, and a humble clerk whose ordinary life was upended by unforeseen circumstances, leading him to the ultimate test of faith. Join me as we uncover the inspiring story of St. Lorenzo Ruiz , the protomartyr of the Philippines. Early Life in Binondo: An Ordinary Man of Faith Born around 1600 in Binondo, Manila, Lorenzo Ruiz was of mixed heritage. His father was Chinese and his mother was Filipino, both devout Catholics. This dual background gifted him with fluency in both Chinese and Tagalog. He grew up serving as an altar boy at the Binondo Church and was educated by Dominican friars. Lorenzo's life was marked by quiet devotion. He became a skilled escribano (calligrapher) due to his excellent penmanship. He married a woman named Rosario, and together they raised a family of two sons a...

The Unexpected Martyr: A Deep Dive into the Life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint



Welcome back to the blog, devout readers. Today, we delve into the extraordinary life of a man whose path to sainthood was anything but planned. He was not a priest, nor a monk, but a husband, a father, and a humble clerk whose ordinary life was upended by unforeseen circumstances, leading him to the ultimate test of faith. Join me as we uncover the inspiring story of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the protomartyr of the Philippines.



Early Life in Binondo: An Ordinary Man of Faith

Born around 1600 in Binondo, Manila, Lorenzo Ruiz was of mixed heritage. His father was Chinese and his mother was Filipino, both devout Catholics. This dual background gifted him with fluency in both Chinese and Tagalog. He grew up serving as an altar boy at the Binondo Church and was educated by Dominican friars.

Lorenzo's life was marked by quiet devotion. He became a skilled escribano (calligrapher) due to his excellent penmanship. He married a woman named Rosario, and together they raised a family of two sons and one daughter. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary and lived a peaceful, content life, a portrait of an ordinary layperson living out their faith in daily life.

The Turning Point: A Flight from Injustice

In 1636, Lorenzo's life took a dramatic and terrifying turn. He was falsely accused of murdering a Spaniard. To avoid what he believed would be an unjust trial and certain execution, he sought asylum on a ship with three Dominican priests and other companions. He left behind his family and his homeland, not knowing the ship's true destination.

He thought they were sailing for Macao, but the ship was bound for Okinawa, Japan. At that time, Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which had outlawed Christianity and was brutally persecuting followers of the faith. Lorenzo Ruiz had unwittingly sailed into the heart of a violent anti-Christian campaign.

The Ultimate Test: Faith Over Fear in Japan

Upon arrival in Okinawa, Lorenzo and his companions were immediately arrested for being Christians. They were imprisoned for two years before being transferred to Nagasaki in 1637 to face trial by torture. The Japanese authorities used a horrific method known as tsurushi (gallows and pit).

The victims were bound and hung upside down in a pit filled with excrement. A small cut was made on their foreheads to prevent a quick death from blood rush to the head, prolonging the agony. One hand was left free, a cruel temptation to signal a willingness to recant their faith and be released.

Despite the unimaginable pain and suffering, Lorenzo Ruiz did not waver. His faith, tested in the fires of persecution, became his anchor. It is recorded that he courageously declared to his tormentors:

"I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God; Had I a thousand lives, all these to Him I shall offer."

After days of hanging in the pit, Lorenzo Ruiz died from blood loss and suffocation on September 29, 1637. His body was cremated and his ashes thrown into the sea.

The Path to Sainthood: A Modern Miracle

While St. Lorenzo Ruiz performed no documented miracles during his lifetime, his steadfast faith in the face of death is a miracle of grace in itself. His cause for canonization was championed centuries later.

He was beatified on February 18, 1981, in a historic ceremony held in Manila by Pope John Paul II, marking the first beatification ever to take place outside of the Vatican.

The miracle that paved the way for his canonization occurred in 1983. A two-year-old Filipino girl named Cecilia Alegria Policarpio was suffering from brain atrophy (hydrocephalus), a condition with a grim prognosis. Her family and supporters prayed fervently for the intercession of Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz. Against all medical odds, the young girl was completely and miraculously cured. This cure was investigated by the Vatican and deemed scientifically inexplicable, attributed to the intercession of Lorenzo Ruiz.

On October 18, 1987, Pope John Paul II canonized Lorenzo Ruiz in St. Peter's Square, Rome, along with his 15 companion martyrs. He thus became the first Filipino saint.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz Today: Patronage and Intercession

Today, St. Lorenzo Ruiz is venerated as the patron saint of the Philippines, Filipino youth, people working overseas, and altar servers. While there isn't a single central website that catalogs new, Vatican-approved miracles on an ongoing basis, the devotion to him is widespread and fervent. Many believers continue to attribute personal favors, healings, and guidance to his intercession. His National Shrine is located at the Binondo Church in Manila, where he once served.

For those seeking to learn more or to ask for his prayers, the National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo Church) is a focal point of devotion.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz's life reminds us that holiness is not reserved for a select few. It is a calling for every baptized person, found in the faithful living of everyday life and in the courage to stand for one's beliefs, no matter the cost.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us!

[1]: St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Chinese-Filipino) - Asian Catholic Initiative - Archdiocese of Chicago

[2]: St Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila | Our Lady of Dolours Servite Parish

[3]: Saint Lorenzo Ruiz - First Filipino Martyr - Seton Magazine

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