The Next Filipino Saint?
There is rumor circulating among local Catholics in the Philippines, particularly in online groups, that Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a Filipino martyr beatified by the late Blessed Pope John Paul II in March 5, 2000, will soon be canonized as a Saint. If true, Blessed Pedro Calungsod will be the second Filipino to be proclaimed by the Catholic Church as Saint. The First one was of course, St. Lorenzo Ruiz. Both St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Bl. Pedro Calungsod were martyrs for the Catholic Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz's famous lines, "Even if I have a thousand lives more, I will still lay it down for my Faith" marked his loyalty to this faith and God in the midst of torture and oppression while he was an "accidental" missionary in Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz escaped the Philippines together with some missionaries because he was accused of a crime he did not commit. He had to leave incognito, through the help of the missionaries. Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified by Blessed Pope John Paul II durin...