The universal Catholic Church rejoices as we witness enthusiastically the canonization
of seven martyrs including our very own Blessed Pedro Calungsod.
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| Young Filipino saint... |
Blessed Pedro Calungsod is a migrant, catechist, sacristan and a missionary companion of Blessed Father Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Jesuit priest. On 1672, they begun their missionary work in the island of Guam where many natives were converted into Roman Catholic. Pedro was born as a Cebuano. He joined the Jesuits for missionary work in different places including Guam. He taught catechism to the natives using the 'Docrina Cristiana'. Calungsod and Fr. Diego came to Tumhon (part of Guam) for their missionary work but the leader of the tribe refuse to be converted including his family but Fr. Diego succeeded in baptizing the young child of the tribal leader and when he heard this, he attacked both Calungsod and Fr. Diego where they met their martyrdom. Calungsod was killed by a spear that struck his chest when he tried to protect Fr. Diego. Their bodies were thrown to the sea.
The martyrdom they received have elevated them into defenders of our faith thus they were beatified. Calungsod was beatified on March 2000 and now after 12 years, He will be canonized as saint and a martyr of faith. He is the second Filipino saint and martyr joining San Lorenzo Ruiz. As we rejoice on the day of his canonization, we pray that many young men will inspire by the life that Calungsod led and be able to response to the call of our church to become missionaries of good tidings.
San Pedro Calungsod...pray for us!
