Lorenzo Ruiz

Lorenzo Ruiz (Saint Lorenzo of Manila)

Lorenzo Ruiz, also known as Saint Lorenzo of Manila, was a Chinese Filipino Catholic layman and the protomartyr of the Philippines. Born in Binondo, Manila, on November 28, 1594, he was the son of a Chinese father and a Tagalog mother, both of whom were Catholic. He received education from Dominican friars and became known for his skillful penmanship, earning the title of escribano (scrivener). He was also a member of the Cofradía del Santísimo Rosario (Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary).

Lorenzo Ruiz married and had three children, leading a peaceful and religious life. However, in 1636, he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. To escape persecution, he sought asylum on a ship with three Dominican priests, a Japanese priest, and a lay leper. They sailed for Okinawa, Japan, in June 1636.

Martyrdom in Japan

Upon arriving in Japan, Lorenzo and his companions encountered the severe persecution of Christians by the Tokugawa shogunate, who feared foreign influence. The missionaries were arrested and imprisoned. After two years, they were transferred to Nagasaki and subjected to brutal torture. On September 27, 1637, Lorenzo and his companions were taken to Nishizaka Hill, where they were tortured by being hung upside-down over a pit and bled, a method known as "tsurushi" in Japanese or "horca y hoya" in Spanish. Despite immense suffering, Lorenzo refused to renounce his Christian faith. He died from blood loss and suffocation on September 29, 1637, at the age of 42. His last words expressed his unwavering commitment to his faith: "I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God; had I a thousand lives, all these to Him shall I offer."

Veneration and Canonization

Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1981 during his papal visit to the Philippines, the first beatification ceremony held outside the Vatican. He was subsequently canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 18, 1987, along with 15 other martyrs of Japan, becoming the first Filipino saint. His canonization was supported by a miracle attributed to his intercession, the healing of a child with hydrocephalus.

Legacy

Lorenzo Ruiz is venerated as the patron saint of the Philippines and the Filipino people. His life and martyrdom are commemorated through various artistic and cultural expressions, including films, operas, and books. Educational institutions and artworks also bear his name and likeness, serving as reminders of his faith and sacrifice. His ashes were cremated and thrown into the sea of Nagasaki to prevent the veneration of relics by other Christians.