Saint Lorenzo Ruiz
Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, was a simple layman who died as a martyr for the faith. His extraordinary fortitude in the face of sufferings is an example that Christians must imitate.
Lorenzo was born in Binondo, Manila on November 28, 1594. He was among the many Filipinos in whose veins blended the mixture of two oriental bloods: Chinese from his father and Filipino from his mother. Being of mixed parentage, he had the advantage over many children of his age for he could speak both the language of his father and his mother. Both of his parents were Roman Catholic.He studied Spanish from the Dominicans who were in charge of the parish of Binondo, and from then he also learned the fundamentals of faith.
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 CofradiadelSantissimo Rosario (Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary). He married and had two sons and a daughter with his Filipino wife. Life for them was generally peaceful, religious and full of contentment.Having been brought up in a Christian atmosphere, he directed his family towards an abiding trust and love of God. Lorenzo himself was a devout Catholic: he was a faithful Mass-goer, was among the few who were encouragedreceiving Holy Communion every first Sunday of the month, and was a great lover of the Virgin Mary. He joined the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary and spent some of his precious time in spreading the devotion to Mary.
Lorenzo was a happy man. All he dreamed of was to fulfill his obligations as a husband and father. But the serenity and peace he enjoyed was not meant to endure. 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.GiovanniYago.
The expedition was a clandestine one because the missionaries were going to a forbidden place, and due to unknown political reason, they did not pass Macao, but sailed directly to Japan. It must be recalled that in those days Christianity in Japan was under siege. Christians were hunted down, put to prison and executed. When Lorenzo became aware that his plans were thwarted and that he was headed instead for another trouble, he was dismayed. But after some reflection, he changed his plan of working in Macao and decided to be a missionary himself.
Lorenzo arrived in Nagasaki with the Dominican Superior Father Antonio Gonzalez and Lazaro, of Kyoto, on September 21, 1637. 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.Eight days later the other Fathers arrived. They were taken to the tribunals of the governors of Nagasaki, SakakibaraHida-no-kami and Baba Saburozayemon, jointly holding the reins of Nagasaki by appointment of the Shogun. They were questioned and repeatedly tormented by two kinds of torture, the water torture and the torture of needles. With the water torture, water was forced through the mouth by a funnel until the belly could take no more. Then, the executioners would put a long board on the stomach and step on either end of the board to force the water out violently through all natural exits. The needle torture consisted in thrusting long needles between the flesh and the nails of each finger. Then the executioners would play with the needles as if playing a guitar. Momentarily one of these priests, Father Shiwozuka de la Cruz gave in to the excruciating pains and apostatized; but shortly after, while in prison, he repented and was reconciled with God, suffering the remaining martyrdom with exemplary fortitude.
Father Gonzalez, Lorenzo and Lazaro were interrogated upon their arrival. After some questions regarding their beliefs and how they came into Japan, Father Gonzalez was subjected to the water torture and was asked to renounce his faith by trampling an image of the Virgin Mary, but he suffered the torments valiantly rather desecrate Our Lady's image. Lazaro was terrorized by this, he apostatized at first, but in the seclusion of the jail and aided by his companions, and he acknowledged his sin and received absolution. After witnessing the torments of his two companions, Lorenzo was asked if he would apostatize. He had a moment of doubt and asked for an interpreter to whom he asked that if his life would be spared should he renounce his faith. But, strengthened by God's grace, even before receiving the answer of his judges, he called back the interpreter and told him that he had just spoken like an ignorant, because (in his own words): " I am a Christian and this I profess until the hour of my death; and for God I shall give my life; and although I did not come to Japan to be a martyrs, but rather because I could not stay in Manila, however, as a Christian and for God I shall give my life. And so, do with me as you please." To this, the judges ordered the ministers to give him the water torture. Even with these repeated tortures, Lorenzo refused to recant his faith. After these sessions, they put him back with his companions.
Two days later, on September 23, 1637, he stood before the tribunal determined to stand firm until the end. The judges asked him straight a final question: "If we grant your life, will you apostatized?" The response was categorical and immediate: "That I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and for Him I will give many thousand lives if I had them. And so do with me as you please." The judges then sentenced him to be executed. It was a clear case of a Christian resolved to die for his faith, and so the judges sentenced him to be executed. The first one to die of their group was the Superior, Father Gonzalez who was devoured by high fever caused by the water torture. He died in prison on September 24. The Japanese burnt his body and threw the ashes into the sea.
On September 27, Lorenzo and his companions were withdrawn from their prison to be executed. They were paraded along the streets of Nagasaki, on horseback, hands tied and muzzled with the motive of death sentence announced by placards. In this manner they were taken to Nichizaka Hill, outside the city, where they had to undergo the final torture of the "gallows on the pit". From gallows in the shape of a football goal, each one of them was hanged by the feet with their body falling into a pit down to the waist. The mouth of the pit was closed by two boards adjusted to the waist of the body and pressed down with stones placed on these boards. This torture was created to last for several days until the victim would either apostatize or died by bleeding or suffocation. Lorenzo's agony lasted two days. On September 29, 1637, the judges wishing to go on a hunting trip ordered their ministers to extract the five victims and have them beheaded. Lorenzo and Lazaro were already found dead. The three priests were then beheaded. Their bodies were set on fire and the ashes carried out of the Nagasaki Bay and thrown into the sea near the little island of Io-Juma, to prevent their veneration by the Christians.
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.
For everyday Christians and Catholics around the world his life is a story of an ordinary person willing to give his life for God. But on a daily basis his life is a constant symbol of how we should never lose faith in God nor ever be afraid of meeting our Father.
Prayers to St. Lorenzo Ruiz
O MOST MERCIFUL and almighty God,
You bestowed as gift to
Lorenzo Ruiz
The strength to withstand
The overpowering forces of death
For the sake of his faith in You.
Through his prayers,
Help us to follow his example
By overcoming all life's trials
And eventually, increase
Our hope and love in You.
O St. Lorenzo Ruiz,
You brought honor to your country,
Having been a level-headed
And prudent father of the family,
A witness of Christ in your life
Until your death.
We present all our petitions
To God through your help
So that by our actions,
We may know more and love more
Jesus our Lord and Savior.
We humbly implore
Your intercession O dear
St. Lorenzo,
For the infinite glory of God
And in honor of your triumph
As a martyr of Christ
And defender of Christianity.
Amen.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment