Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. He was born in Manila around the year 1600 to
a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, who were both Christians. As a young boy he was educated by Dominican
priests and served as an altar boy. He became
a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship,
and he was a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. He married and was a devoted husband and father of two sons and a daughter.
His life took an abrupt turn when he was unjustly accused of
murder. The threat of arrest led Lawrence to flee his home. He sought asylum with several Dominican
priests who were going to Japan to do missionary work.
However, Catholics were being persecuted heavily in Japan. All those who professed the Catholic faith,
and especially missionaries were being jailed and even being sentenced to death
by the Japanese. Lorenzo along with the
missionaries were arrested shortly after arriving in Japan and were subjected
to unspeakable tortures.
When government officials
asked, "If we grant you life, will you renounce your faith?,"
Lorenzo responded: "That I will never do.
I am a Catholic and happy to die for God. If I have a thousand lives to offer, I would
offer them to God. So, do with me as you please." Lorenzo was martyred for his faith, along
with 15 Dominicans from Spain, Italy, France, Japan, and the Philippines.
How would we stand up in the
circumstances these martyrs faced? Would
we deny our faith to save our lives?
Existing documents attest that the Japanese promised him a
safe trip back home where he could be reunited with his loved ones, but San
Lorenzo chose to witness to Jesus Christ.
To be Christian means to witness to Jesus every day, in
everything we do. Every day we face the challenge of remaining
faithful, of practicing love towards all, of giving without counting the
cost.
The witness of San Lorenzo is the testimony we need of
courage without measure. Faith and life
for Lorenzo was synonymous and inseparable. Life without faith would have been
without value...
We must not be afraid to witness to Jesus Christ in the
public realm: praying before meals at restaurants, praying the rosary on a
lunch break or in front of the abortion clinic, inviting neighbors to Church,
all take courage, but are powerful witnesses.
May we know the help of the prayers and example of Saint
Lorenzo Ruiz to witness to God’s truth today, for the glory of God and
salvation of souls.
No comments:
Post a Comment