Feast of San Lorenzo

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Within this one week the Universal Church will celebrate some great feast days near and dear to my heart. (Okay, so some are falling on Sundays so we won't necessarily celebrate them, but whatevs) Yesterday was the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, tomorrow is the feast of the Archangels, St. Therese on Thursday, Guardian Angels on Friday, and St. Francis on Sunday! Maaan I love our Church.

Oh yea, and as many of you know... Today is a special feast for the Filipino Community. Today we celebrate the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and Companions.





[Yea, I know... the stamp's old. He's a Saint now. But still a cool image to see on a Government issued product]

Also, on this feast day where one man suffered greatly for love of God... Let us please keep all our brethren in the Philippines who are suffering because of the flooding in our prayers. San Lorenzo, Pray for us.

From Sean's Article Last Year:

As many of you already know, San Lorenzo Ruiz and companions are the first "Filipino" Saints (although, San Lorenzo was also half Chinese; and I think that among his companions there were several Japanese). I think that it is important to remember that San Lorenzo is just one of 16 martyrs who gave their lives. He was just chosen to represent the bunch, but they all are equal in dignity having all been "raised to the altar" together as a group.

"Isa akong Katoliko at buong pusong tinatanggap ang kamatayan para sa Panginoon, kung ako man ay may sanlibong buhay, lahat ng iyon ay iaalay ko sa Kanya."

"I am a Catholic and I wholeheartedly accept to die for God. If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them all up to Him."

Lorenzo Ruiz was born in Binondo, Manila between 1600 to 1610. His father was Chinese and his mother was native Tagalog. During his youth he was an altar boy, sarcistan at Binondo convent. He was educated by the Dominican Fathers and was their escribano because of his skillful hand and unsurpassed penmanship.

It is most commonly believed that he left the Philippines in 1639 because the Spaniards believed he had committed a crime against them. He left the Philippines on 10 June 1636 with the aid of the Dominican Fathers and Sr. Domingo Gonzales.

In Japan, Christians were persecuted and put to death. St. Lorenzo Ruiz together with his imprisoned companions were captured and brought to Nagasaki around 10 July 1636. There they suffered incredible torture as they were hung by their feet and submerged in water till they neared death. They also suffered 'water torture' which brought some of St. Lorenzo's companions to recant their faith. Needles were pressed in between their finger nails and skin and they were beaten unconscious. St. Lorenzo never lost his faith.

On 27 September 1637 he was taken with his companions to the "Mountain of Martyrs". There he was hung upside down into a pit in what was called a "horca y hoya". This was the most painful way to die in those times and involved using rocks to add weight to the person so that the person suffocates faster and is crushed from their own and added weight. After two days he died from bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and his ashes were thrown into the sea. He always professed his love and faith in God.

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II during the Papal visit to Manila on 18 February 1981. St. Lorenzo Ruiz was elevated to sainthood and received canonization on 18 October 1987 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in Vatican City, Rome.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, with a wife, two sons, and a daughter. Thus, he should be viewed as a role model of all Catholic husbands and fathers.

Following the Mass of Canonization in Rome, John Paul the Great addressed a delegation of Filipino pilgrims with these words:

Through [the work of evangelization and conversion begun nearly 450 years ago in the Philippines], Jesus Christ became a Filipino. He entered the hearts of your forefathers. He shared the hopes, the sufferings, and all the dramatic events of your nation's history. His grace transformed lives. His saving message shaped your culture. And He did not hesitate to call a humble son from Binondo, of Manila extramuros, to become one with Him in the great mystery of His saving passion and death....

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz calls Philippine Catholics of today to uphold and strengthen their nation's baptismal consecration. His example urges you to meet the challenges of the present with the same strength of character and trust in God with which he faced the supreme test of love. In a special way, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz calls families to grow in dignity, in harmony and responsibility as the "domestic Church", where each one learns to be at the service of all, witnessing to the sanctity of human life at every stage and in every condition. For all this we must pray to God through the intercession of Mary, for whom you have such great devotion, and through the intercession of the newly canonized martyrs.

In addition to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and companions, the Philippines is also proud to be the home of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. He was a catechist and a martyr who died at around the age of 18. Click here to read more about his life.

Hit the Jump for more info.