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St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Feast 09-28 · Canonized 1987

Patron of

About

Lorenzo Ruiz was born in Manila around 1600, the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. He worked as a calligrapher and served with the Dominican missionaries. Falsely accused of a crime, he fled with missionaries to Japan in 1636.

In Japan, Christians faced brutal persecution. Lorenzo was arrested in Nagasaki and tortured, but refused to renounce his faith, reportedly saying that he was ready to die a thousand deaths for God.

He was martyred in 1637 and canonized in 1987 by Pope John Paul II, becoming the first Filipino saint.

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Suggested prayer

O God, who gave St. Lorenzo Ruiz courage to face torture in Nagasaki rather than renounce the faith, grant through his intercession that migrants and all who are far from home may keep the faith in every land. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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