Every year, for the past several years, on the occasion of the patron saint's feast day, the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz is brought to all areas of the parish in the grand festive procession.
This year differs from the rest in that the parish also held a solemn gala candlelight procession last July 23 to kick off the nine-week novena for our beloved saint's feast day on September 28. It was participated in by the different ministries and organizations in the parish with their members dressed in their gala uniforms. They were also joined by other parishioners and devotees of San Lorenzo.
Very little was known of San Lorenzo's childhood, except that his family were devout Catholics and that at an early age, he worked as a houseboy and sacristan for Dominican friars in Binondo Church. As he grew up, he joined the confraternity of the Holy Rosary and became a pious follower of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lorenzo received his education from the Dominicans who taught him how to read and write. His extraordinary talent for handling documents and calligraphy earned him the title of “escribano” from the Dominican friars as well as their trust in having Lorenzo transcribe baptismal, confirmation and marriage documents into the church’s official books.
Life would have been easy for Lorenzo were it not for a certain incident that changed his fate in 1636. The exact details are unknown, but he was accused of murdering a Spaniard and was sought for questioning by the authorities. He sought assistance from his Dominican superiors in order to avoid persecution. And because the friars knew that the Spanish officials would treat Lorenzo’s case unjustly, they encouraged him to leave the country. Lorenzo was sent to join a missionary expedition to Macao along with several Dominican friars and a Japanese layman. There, Lorenzo hoped to start a new life, but little did he know that this expedition was headed straight for Japan, and that he would never see his family again. A much graver fate lay in store for the unlikely martyr.
Two days later, on the final judgment day, the judges had Lorenzo face them again and asked him their last question: “In return for your life, will you give up your faith?” Lorenzo’s response was immediate: “That I will never do. I am a Christian and I shall die for God. Even if I had a thousand lives, I would gladly give them all up for God. Do with me as you wish.”
Lorenzo and his companions were condemned to death and were taken to Nichizaka Hill to undergo their final torture. Each of them was hanged by the feet and dropped into a well filled with stones. Their temples were slit to let blood drip until they died from loss of oxygen or asphyxiation. Lorenzo died two days later on September 29, 1637. The soldiers then burned the bodies of the prisoners and tossed their ashes into the sea in order to prevent Christian veneration.
Three months later, news of their demise reached Philippine shores. Touched by their story, those who found out spread the word of his martyrdom and the martyrdom of his companions. On October 28, 1987, during his papal visit to Manila, Pope John Paul II had Lorenzo Ruiz beatified and later canonized. San Lorenzo Ruiz holds the honor of being the first Filipino saint, and the distinction of being the first saint beatified outside the Vatican. As Pope John Paul II described him, Lorenzo Ruiz truly was the most improbable of saints.
Though very little is known about his life, San Lorenzo Ruiz was truly a man of God. For a man to offer his life for God, this is truly the noblest thing anyone could ever do.
