Among all the saints in the world, St. Lorenzo Ruiz most probably is the busiest saint in heaven.
What with him being a Filipino?
Filipinos are considered to be the most prayerful people in the universe, naturally, they would call on someone closer. True enough. Many answered prayers were granted, not just to Filipinos but to other people from other parts of the world as well.
Hence, on February 18,1981, He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution as he had, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast day is on September 28th.
St. Lorenzo Ruiz then became the first Filipino saint and the first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith.
Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter. He was born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's and was educated in the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful penmanship for private or official use. To be sure, that work denoted an accomplished and educated person, especially at a time when many an illustrious personage were far from excelling in this art.
For unknown reasons, Lorenzo was accused of murder. In 1636 he sought asylum on board ship with three Dominican priests, Saint Antonio Gonzalez, Saint Guillermo Courtet, and Saint Miguel de Aozaraza, a Japanese priest, Saint Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Saint Lazaro of Kyoto, a leper. Only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan during a time of intense Christian persecution.
Lorenzo could have gone to Formosa (modern Taiwan), but feared the Spaniards there would hang him, and so stayed with the missionaries as they landed at Okinawa. The group was soon exposed as Christian, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. They were tortured in several inhuman ways for days. Lorenzo and the Japanese priest broke at one point, and were ready to renounce their faith in exchange for release, but after their moment of crisis, they reclaimed their faith and defied their tormentors.
When asked by the governors: "If we grant you life, will you renounce your faith?"
Lorenzo replied: "That I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and for him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them. And so, do with me as you please."
On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallow by his feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea.
Novena Prayer to St. Lorenzo Ruiz
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
V. No one lives for himself; no one dies for himself.
R. We live and die for our God and our Lord, to him belongs all that lives. (Rom. 14:7-8)
Let us pray:
God our loving Father, we praise you!
We thank you for crowning our Filipino brother, Lorenzo Ruiz with martyrdom.
Through his intercession, enable us by your Holy Spirit of Love, to live and die for you and your beloved people, hoping that we may be transformed day by day into the likeness of your Son, Jesus.
United with him around the table of his Eucharistic Sacrifice, inspire us to surrender ourselves to be taken by you, Father, to be blessed, broken, and shared with and for others in love and unity, so that our beloved country may attain that peace we long for.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father
Hail Mary (thrice)
Glory be
V. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary,
R. Help us to ponder and live by the Mysteries of the life of Jesus.
V. San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions.
