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==

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. On 27 September 1637, Lorenzo and his companions were taken to Nishizaka Hill, where they were tortured by being hung upside-down over a pit and bled. He died two days later on 29 September 1637, aged 42. This form of torture was known as tsurushi in Japanese or horca y hoya ("gallows and pit") in Spanish. The method, alleged to have been extremely painful, had the victim bound; one hand was always left free so that the individual may signal their desire to recant, leading to their release. Despite his suffering, Lorenzo refused to renounce Christianity and died from eventual blood loss and suffocation. His last words were: After his death his body was cremated. His ashes were then thrown into the sea of Nagasaki to prevent other Christians from gathering his sacred relics. ==Veneration==

Beatification process The positio for the cause of beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz was written by Spanish historian Fidel Villarroel. The central document found to exhibit Ruiz's martyrdom was an eyewitness account by two Japanese ex-priests from the Society of Jesus, rediscovered by Villaroel at the Jesuit Generalate archive in Rome, an unlikely location as Ruiz was of the Dominican order. 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. . 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. ==In popular culture==

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==