A Filipino Saint

My husband has an interest and fascination with saints. While he is spiritual at heart (double entendre) and believes in Jesus, he has never subscribed to any organized religion. I was raised Catholic. Needless to say, the fact that he has such a strong interest with saints is quite unique. Before leaving the house everyday, he opens up one of the two books of saints that he keeps on the entry table to see who the "Saint of the Day" is.

You're probably wondering why I'm even talking about this. I suppose it's because I haven't been writing enough on my blog, I couldn't think of what write about (even though there's TONS to rant about), so I decided to surf online and see what saint's say it is. Now you may be saying, "Why don't you go look at one of the books on the entry table?" My answer to you is simple. I'm lazy. Too lazy to walk the 40, or so, steps on over to the front of the apartment.

I digress... .

So I went online and typed in "saints days" into the google search engine and came up with several different references. One of the ones of most interest I found on (can you believe it) www.americancatholic.org. Sheesh. Anyhow, according to this source, September 22, 2004 is the day of St. Lawrence [Lorenzo] Ruiz (b.1600-d.1637) and Companions. It turns out that Lorenzo was born in Manila, Philippines of a Chinese father and Filipino mother. St. Lorenzo was taught by the Dominicans, and became a professional calligrapher and transcribed documents "in beautiful penmanship." He married and had two sons and a daughter.

(More about St. Lorenzo from the Web site)

"His life took an abrupt turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing further is known except the statement of two Dominicans that "he was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him."
At that time three Dominican priests, Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet and Miguel de Aozaraza, were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Lazaro, a leper. Lorenzo, having taken asylum with them, was allowed to accompany them. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan.
They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa, but, he reported, "I decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there." In Japan they were soon found out, arrested and taken to Nagasaki. The site of wholesale bloodshed when the atomic bomb was dropped had known tragedy before. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution.
They were subjected to an unspeakable kind of torture: After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears.
The superior, Antonio, died after some days. Both the Japanese priest and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions.
In Lorenzo's moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, "I would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life." The interpreter was noncommittal, but Lorenzo, in the ensuing hours, felt his faith grow strong. He became bold, even audacious, with his interrogators.
The five were put to death by being hanged upside down in pits. Boards fitted with semicircular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were allowed to hang for three days. By that time Lorenzo and Lazaro were dead. The three Dominican priests, still alive, were beheaded.
Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others, Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. "


Why bring up this story??? Because I'm 1/2 Filipino, and I thought this was interesting (never heard of him before).

Anyhow, I'm tired, so I'm turning into bed -- actually, I feel like I'm turning in to a pumpkin.

Good Night.

~Jody