Saint Lorenzo Ruiz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Ruiz Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (c. 1600 September 29, 1637), also known as San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, is the first Filipino saint (protomartyr) venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. He was martyred during persecution of Japanese Christians under the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 17th century.

Early life

Binondo Church is the major shrine of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Lorenzo Ruiz was born in Binondo, Manila, of a Chinese father and a Tagalog mother. His father taught him Chinese while his mother taught him Tagalog. Both of his parents were Roman Catholics. Ruiz served as an altar boy at the convent of Binondo church. After being educated by the Dominican friars for a few years, Ruiz earned the title of escribano (calligrapher) because of his skillful hand and unsurpassed penmanship. He became a member of the Cofradia del Santissimo Rosario (Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary). He married and had two sons and a daughter with Rosario, a native. Life for them was generally peaceful, religious and full of contentment. In 1636, while working as a clerk at the Binondo Church, Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Due to the allegation, Ruiz sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests: Saint Antonio Gonzalez; Saint Guillermo Courtet; Saint Miguel de Aozaraza, a Japanese priest; Saint Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz; and a layman named Saint Lazaro of Kyoto, a leper. Ruiz and his companions left for Japan on June 10, 1636, with the aid of the Dominican fathers and Fr. Giovanni Yago. [ Upon arrival in Okinawa, the missionaries set out to fulfill their mission in the forbidden country. They proceeded secretly and cautiously. But the Japanese proved more astute and clever. Not many days after their arrival, their presence was discovered and they were identified as believers because of their good behavior and chaste conduct. At that time, Christians were persecuted in Japan; the Tokugawa shogunate had banned the religion due to increasing fears of European colonialism. Under pain of death, Japanese Christians were forced to renounce Christianity; some complied, some refused and were thus martyred, while others continued to practice their religion in secret One of the forms of punishments imposed on Christians was "hanging in the pit" on the hills of Nagasaki. The victim's feet were tied to a beam, his body hanged upside down, and his head occupying the amount of the pit. Lorenzo Ruiz went through this agonizing punishment when he refused to renounce his faith. When he was investigated as a Christian, he answered: "I'm a Christian and I will remain a Christian even to the

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point of death. Only to God will I offer my life. Even if I had a thousands 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, but his stuck to his belief. It was on September 23, 1637 that he began to undergo "hanging in the pit".

Martyrdom

A painting of San Lorenzo Ruiz at the stairway of San Carlos Seminary, Makati City, Philippines.
The Tokugawa shogunate was persecuting Christians by the time Ruiz had arrived in Japan. He and his companions were subsequently arrested and tortured before being sentenced to death. The missionaries, now including Lorenzo, were arrested and thrown into prison where they were badly treated. After two long years, they were transferred to Nagasaki to face trial. The place for the trial was not a tribunal hall but a torture chamber On September 27, 1637, Ruiz and his companions were taken to the Nishizaka Hill or the "Mountain of Martyrs", where they were tortured through hung upside down into a pit known as horca y hoya, or tsurushi, by submerging in water until near death and by water torture. Needles were also inserted under their finger nails and they were beaten until unconscious. This mode of torture was considered as the most painful way to die at the time because it involved the use of rocks to add weight to the person being punished. The individual being tortured suffocated quickly while being crushed by his own weight. Two days after, Ruiz died from hemorrhage and suffocation. His body was cremated and his ashes were thrown into the sea. Before he died he mentioned this famous words: 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 wholeheartedly accept death for the Lord; if I have a thousand lives, all of them I will offer to Him.

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Path to Sainthood

Image of San Lorenzo Ruiz placed on Holy Cards

Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified in Manila on February 18, 1981, by Pope John Paul II during his papal visit to Manila, the first beatification ceremony held outside the Vatican. San Lorenzo Ruiz was canonized by Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City, Rome, on October 18, 1987, making him the first Filipino saint and the first Filipino martyr. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels St. Lorenzo Ruiz's image is included among the images by John Nava of 135 saints and blessed from around the world in the Communion of Saints Tapestries which hangs inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. 20th anniversary On September 28, 2007, the Catholic Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of Ruiz canonization in 1987. Manila Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales said: Kahit saan nandoon ang mga Pilipino, ang katapatan sa Diyos ay dala-dala ng Pinoy (Wherever the Filipinos may be, they bring with them their loyalty to God).

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