Lorenzo Ruiz (; ; ; November 28, 1594 – September 29, 1637), also called Saint Lorenzo of Manila, was a Filipino Catholic layman and a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. A Chinese Filipino, he became his country's protomartyr after his execution in Japan by the Tokugawa shogunate during its persecution of Japanese Christians in the 17th century. Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of, among others, the Philippines and the Filipino people.

Early life

thumb|right|[[Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz and Binondo Church, the main shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz]]

Lorenzo Ruiz was a Filipino born in Binondo, Manila, on 28 November 1594, The Ruiz family led a generally peaceful, religious and content life.

In 1636, while working as a clerk for the Binondo Church, Lorenzo was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Lorenzo sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests: Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet, and Miguel de Aozaraza; a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz; and a lay leper Lázaro of Kyoto. Lorenzo and his companions sailed for Okinawa on 10 June 1636, with the aid of the Dominican fathers.

Martyrdom

thumb|Depiction of tsurushi.

The Tokugawa Shogunate was persecuting Christians because they feared that the Spanish invaded the Philippines through using religion by the time Lorenzo had arrived in Japan. The missionaries were arrested and thrown into prison, and after two years, they were transferred to Nagasaki to face trial by torture. The group endured many and various cruel methods of torture. Lorenzo was beatified during Pope John Paul II's papal visit to the Philippines in 1981. It was the first ever beatification ceremony to be held outside the Vatican.

thumb | A statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz enshrined at the [[Manila Cathedral. ]]

Canonization

Lorenzo was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 18, 1987, among the 16 Martyrs of Japan, making him the first Filipino saint.

A mosaic of San Lorenzo is found in the Trinity Dome of Mary's National Shrine in Washington DC.

On September 28, 2017, the 30th anniversary of Lorenzo's canonization was celebrated in the Archdiocese of Manila.

Other tributes

Lorenzo Ruiz is included in American painter John Nava's Communion of Saints Tapestries, a depiction of 135 saints and blessed which hangs inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California.

Film and theater

  • Ang Buhay ni Lorenzo Ruiz, a 1970 Filipino religious biographical film
  • Lorenzo Ruiz: The Saint... A Filipino, a 1988 Filipino film
  • Lorenzo Ruiz, Escribano, a 1994 contemporary Filipino opera composed by Jerry Amper Dadap, commissioned by the UST Conservatory of Music. Regarded as the first opera on the first Filipino saint, it was staged at the Phil-Am Life Auditorium in Manila. The opera was based on the play by Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta, with a Filipino translation by Florentino Hornedo and direction by Isagani R. Cruz.
  • Lorenzo, a musical staged in September 2013, by Green Wings Entertainment, with music by Ryan Cayabyab, book and lyrics by Juan Ekis and Paul Dumol, with the collaboration of Joem Antonio, direction by Nonon Padilla, and production by Christopher de Leon.

Books

  • Carunungan, Celso Al. To Die a Thousand Deaths: A Novel on the Life and Times of Lorenzo Ruiz, Social Studies Publications, Metro Manila, Philippines, 1980.
  • Delgado, Antonio C. The Making of The First Filipino Saint, The Ala-Ala Foundation, 1982.
  • Villaroel, Fidel "Lorenzo de Manila: The Protomartyr of the Philippines and His Companions", UST Publishing, Inc., 1988
  • Dela Peña, Rev. Ordanico "The Birth of the Catholic Philippines in Asia: Includes the Lives of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod", Xlibris Corp., 2000
  • Diaz, Emo "On The Road With San Lorenzo", UST Publishing, Inc., 2005
  • Tan, Susan "The Martyrdom Of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, Pauline Publishing & Media, 2007
  • Tan, Susan "Martyred: The Story Of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz", Pauline Publishing & Media, 2014

Television

  • Canonization of Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz TV Special Coverage (PTV 4, 1987)
  • Saint Lorenzo Ruiz: The Life, A 1st Filipino Saint Documentary Special (PTV 4, 1987)

Educational institutions

  • Escuela De San Lorenzo Ruiz Academy, Greenheights Subdivision, Brgy. San Antonio, Sucat, Paranaque City
  • Lorenzo Ruiz Academy, 1606 Ongpin St, Binondo, Manila City
  • Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila School, Felix Ave., Vista Verde Executive Village Phase 1, Cainta, Rizal
  • San Lorenzo Ruiz Center Of Studies And Schools, Villa de San Lorenzo, St. Dominic Corinthian, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
  • San Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila School, Buenmar Ave., Greenland Phase 1, Nangka, Marikina City
  • San Lorenzo Ruiz Academy, Valencia Site, Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato
  • St. Lorenzo Ruiz Academy Of Tagum, Inc., Apokon Road, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte

See also

  • List of Filipinos venerated in the Catholic Church
  • Ignacia del Espiritu Santo
  • Jerónima de la Asunción
  • Kakure Kirishitan
  • Martha de San Bernardo, the first Filipino nun
  • Martyrs of Japan
  • Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint

References

  • Cause for Beatification
  • Homily of John Paul II for the beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz
  • Mosaic in Saint Peter's Basilica
  • St. Lorenzo Ruiz in the Communion of Saints Tapestries
  • St. Lorenzo Ruiz Prayer in times of adversity. Translated into Spanish by José Tlatelpas, traditional version in English and Tagalog. Published in the Canadian Hispanic webzine "La Guirnalda Polar".
  • Lorenzo, a musical on the life of Lorenzo Ruiz