St. Lorenzo Ruiz: The First Filipino Saint and Martyr

Suspended upside down over a pit of rotting corpses and human waste, his body wracked with pain from days of brutal torture, St. Lorenzo Ruiz faced a simple choice: deny Christ and live, or maintain his faith and die.

“I am a Christian,” he declared through bloodied lips, “and I shall die for God, and for Him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them.”

With those words, this ordinary Filipino father became the first saint of his nation and one of history’s most powerful witnesses to unshakeable faith.

Early Life in Spanish Manila

Lorenzo Ruiz was born around 1594 in Binondo, Manila, during the early years of Spanish colonization in the Philippines. His mixed heritage reflected the cultural diversity of his time – his father was Chinese, likely a trader who had settled in the Philippines, while his mother was a native Filipino woman. This multicultural background would later influence his ability to serve as a bridge between different communities.

Growing up in the shadow of the Dominican church in Binondo, Lorenzo received his education from the Dominican friars. He learned to read and write in both Spanish and Tagalog, skills that were relatively rare among the native population at the time. More importantly, he was raised in the Catholic faith, which became the cornerstone of his identity.

As a young man, Lorenzo married a Filipino woman named Rosario, and together they were blessed with three children – two sons and a daughter. He worked as a calligrapher and notary for the Dominican convent, using his literacy skills to serve the Church and his community. By all accounts, he was a devoted husband, loving father, and active member of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.

The Fateful Decision

In 1636, Lorenzo’s peaceful life shattered when he was falsely accused of murder involving a Spanish official. Facing almost certain execution under colonial justice, he accepted an invitation from Dominican missionaries to join their mission to Japan – seeing it as both escape and service to God.

Lorenzo departed Manila in June 1636 with three Dominican priests (Antonio González, Guillermo Courtét, Miguel de Aozaraza) and a Japanese priest (Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz). What he may not have fully grasped was that Japan had become the world’s most dangerous place for Christians, as the Tokugawa shogunate waged a systematic campaign to eradicate Christianity entirely.

Capture and Ultimate Sacrifice

Within months, Lorenzo and his companions were betrayed and captured, then taken to Nagasaki for interrogation. Authorities offered the standard choice: renounce Christianity or die. For Lorenzo, who had left behind a wife and children, this decision carried profound weight. Yet his response was unwavering – he would not abandon his Catholic faith.

The torture Lorenzo endured included being hung upside down over a pit filled with excrement and corpses – the “tsurushi” method designed for maximum suffering. Throughout days of brutal torment, witnesses reported he continued praying and encouraging fellow prisoners.

On September 29, 1637, Lorenzo died from his wounds, his final words a prayer: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” He was 43 years old.

The Path to Sainthood

Pope John Paul II beatified Lorenzo Ruiz with his 15 companion martyrs in Manila on February 18, 1981 – the first beatification ever held in the Philippines. The canonization followed on October 18, 1987, making Lorenzo the first Filipino saint.

Lessons for Today

Lorenzo’s story demonstrates that sanctity flourishes in ordinary laypeople living their faith authentically. His willingness to leave family when falsely accused shows how God brings good from difficult circumstances. His steadfast faith under extreme torture exemplifies the total commitment Christ calls from his followers.

Lorenzo Ruiz’s multicultural background – Chinese, Filipino, and Spanish – makes him particularly relevant for our globalized world, serving as patron for immigrants, mixed families, and all navigating between cultures while maintaining Catholic identity.

A Saint for Our Time

St. Lorenzo Ruiz is patron saint of the Philippines, Filipino immigrants, and those facing false accusations. His feast day, September 28, is celebrated worldwide by Filipino communities.

In our modern world where religious persecution continues, Lorenzo’s witness challenges comfortable Christians to examine their faith’s depth. For Filipino Catholics, he represents the integration of indigenous values with Christian faith and the courage to stand for truth regardless of cost.

We invite you in joining us in praying the Prayer to St. Lorenzo Ruiz by clicking the link below. May this ordinary man, who was faced with extraordinary circumstances but chose faithfulness to Christ unto death, inspire Catholics worldwide to live their faith with courage, integrity, and unwavering trust in God’s providence.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

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