Born in the Philippines around 1600, the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was a faithful altar server, gifted calligrapher, and member of the Dominican Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. He later married and had three children.
However, when falsely accused of murder, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz fled with a group of Dominican missionaries sailing to Japan. When they arrived in Japan, they were surprised to learn that the Japanese military government had outlawed Christianity and was destroying the Christian population with a massive persecution. There, the five men were captured and imprisoned for two years. Even though they were tortured horribly, they died refusing to denounce their faith.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz’s last words were, “I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly do accept death for God. Had I a thousand lives, all these to Him I shall offer. Do with me as you please.” He is the patron saint of altar servers, those who work overseas, the Philippines, and Filipino youth. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz will help you to live out your faith no matter where you are. We can be like Saint Lorenzo when we offer up our lives to God.