Lorenzo Ruiz

Lawrence Ruiz ( * 1600-1610 in Binondo, Manila, † September 29, 1637 in Nagasaki, Japan ) is the first Filipino saint.

As a Chinese father and a Filipino mother child he learned both Chinese and Tagalog. Both parents were Catholic.

Laurenzius was an altar boy and sacristan in the church of the Dominican convent of Binondo. After the title of " he escribano " ( writer, calligrapher? ) Had acquired, he became a member of the " Brotherhood of the Holy Rosary ."

He worked as an employee of the church of Binondo, in 1636 when he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Before this event, he had led a peaceful, contented and the faith dedicated to life with his Filipino wife and three children.

According to the indictment, he sought asylum on board a ship, on which besides him three Dominicans ( the Holy Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet and Miguel de Aozaraza ), a Japanese priest ( the Holy Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz ) and another, leper layman ( the Holy Lazaro of Kyoto ) were located.

The ship landed in Okinawa and the group was arrested for their Christian faith. They were tortured, but they did not recant their faith and died as martyrs.

Laurenzius Ruiz was beatified on 18 February 1981 by John Paul II in Manila, which spoke to him in Rome also holy on 18 October 1987. Laurenzius ' beatification was the first, which took place outside the Vatican. His feast day is September 28. He is the patron of the Filipino youth, the ethnic Chinese Filipinos working abroad the Filipino workers and the poor. He is particularly venerated in the church of Binondo. She wears his honor the title of Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and is one of four Basilicae minores Manila.

• Saint (17th century)
• Filipinos
• Born in the 17th century
• Died in 1637
• Man