Post by Always be kind (@Udochukwuu)

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, recognized as the first Filipino saint, was born around 1600 in Manila, Philippines. With a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, Lorenzo was brought up with a deep Catholic faith. He dedicated his time to his parish, serving as an altar boy and a calligrapher before joining a Dominican Confraternity. Lorenzo married Rosario, and together they had three children.

In 1636, facing false accusations of murder, Lorenzo escaped to Japan with three priests and a leper. During this era, Christians in Japan were being persecuted by the rulers. Lorenzo was eventually captured and spent two years in prison because he refused to renounce his faith. Even under severe torture, he stayed true to his beliefs, declaring, "I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God," as his final words.

On September 27, 1637, Lorenzo was executed by being hanged upside down, a brutal method known as tsurushi. He was beatified in 1981 in the Philippines, making history as the first person to be beatified outside the Vatican. A miracle in 1983, which involved the healing of a child, led to his canonization in 1987.

St. Lorenzo Ruiz is celebrated as the patron saint of Filipino youth, the Philippines, overseas workers, and altar servers. His feast day is observed annually on September 28.

0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares