Saint Lorenzo Ruiz

Life story

Lorenzo Ruiz was born in the Binondo district of Manila around the end of the sixteenth century; his birth year is uncertain. According to tradition, his father was of Chinese descent and his mother Tagalog, both Catholics. He worked as a calligrapher and scribe for the Dominican friars, was married with three children, and belonged to a parish confraternity. He was also known in his parish as a quiet, devout man and a faithful member of the Rosary confraternity.

In 1636 he was implicated in a murder case (the sources are unclear on the details) and asked to leave with the Dominicans aboard a ship bound for Okinawa. With him were the priests Antonio González, Guillermo Courtet, Miguel de Aozaraza and the Japanese priest Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz. At the time the Tokugawa government had banned Christianity and was hunting missionaries. The ship stopped on the way at Formosa (Taiwan) before reaching Okinawa, where they were detained.

The group was arrested and taken to Nagasaki. They were tortured in various ways, including being hung upside down in a pit. According to the accounts, Lorenzo refused to renounce his faith despite days of suffering. He died at Nagasaki on 29 September 1637. The authorities questioned him repeatedly and pressed him to renounce his faith in return for his life.

John Paul II beatified him in 1981 and canonised him on 18 October 1987, together with his companions; he is the first saint of the Philippines. Filipino Catholics honour him as a model of fidelity under pressure, and Binondo church holds a shrine to him.

Works and witness

• Worked as a scribe for the Dominican friars in Manila.
• Sailed for Okinawa in 1636 with Dominican missionaries.
• Was tortured at Nagasaki and refused to renounce his faith.
• Was canonised in 1987.

Saints from the same country

Saint Pedro Calungsod, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Paul Miki and Companions

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Records of the beatification of the Martyrs of Japan (1981)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.