Fourteen years ago today, the Filipino People witnessed the Canonization of another countryman, roughly forty years after the Canonization of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the world was now introduced to Saint Pedro Calungsod.
Not much was written about his early life, only that he was one of the boys who went to one of the Jesuit Mission Schools. It was in 1668, when Pedro was around 14 years old, that he was chosen as one of the aides for the Mission.
The Mission would take Pedro, together with his companions, and a number of Spanish Missionaries to the Islas de los Ladrones, named as such for their association with pirates, and since most of the ships that pass by that area are bound to be robbed. It was after this expedition that they were renamed the Marianas Islands, in honor of Our Lady.
The life in the Marianas was tough, and the Missionaries were met with many trials such as climate, and the obvious struggle of a language barrier.
However, it was here that Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, the Mission Chaplain, was able to create basic instructional materials in Chamorro, to be used in catechizing the natives.
The Missionaries were able to create a good rapport with the natives, as their knowledge of Western progress greatly aided their civilization. However, it meant letting go of primitive practices, and people.
One of those who feared becoming irrelevant was Choco, a Chinese Merchant who found his way on the island before the Missionaries came. He enamored the natives with the items of his trade, until he gained enough influence to sway the Island’s Leaders.
Seeing Baptism as his primary threat, he began to spread rumors that the Baptismal Water used was poisonous, using to his advantage the fact that many Chamorro children were sickly and even on death’s door upon Baptism.
The Missionaries nonetheless continued their work of evangelization. However, Choco’s lies would prove to be the downfall of Pedro Calungsod and Padre Diego.
While on the search for a runaway companion, news came that one of the local chieftains, Matapang, had a newborn baby girl. In haste, Pedro and Padre Diego went to baptize the child. However, the chieftain refused, having been consumed by Choco’s lies. So the Missionaries decided to come at another time when the air was cooler, since Matapang was known to be hot-headed.
They spent the day catechizing the Children by the seashore, singing hymns and reciting prayers. When they went back a second time, the mother gave her consent and the child was baptized. This was not met well by Matapang, who in a fit of fury, stormed out and enlisted the help of another warrior, Hirao, in order to kill the two who baptized his daughter. Hirao was reluctant, keeping in mind the many good things done by the Missionaries. But after being called a coward, Hirao was locked in and set to kill.
While Pedro and Padre Diego were carrying on their Catechesis by the seashore, the assailants struck, and took down Pedro. He could have run away, and left the Priest behind. But he chose to stay and protect his friend, even if it would cost him his life. Finally, a spear found its mark, and Pedro was finished off by a cutlass.
Looking toward the same end, Padre Diego picked up his Crucifix and began preaching to the assailants, who were eager to give the priest the same bloody end as his companion.
The assailants took the bodies of both and cast them into the sea. Even the blood of those martyrs was doomed to be lost to history, as the assailants also burned it out of the sand, an attempt to remove every trace of them from the Marianas.
When news reached Manila, the Churches rang out in a Te Deum, for those who gave up their lives for the Faith. But after that, silence. It would not be until the Beatification of Padre Diego that Cebu would find out of the existence of a young Pedro Calungsod, who stepped in harms way, to keep the Faith of Christ Jesus.
In a world where young people do not do much anymore, confined to their phones and other gadgets, Pedro Calungsod stands as a model of stepping out into the deep, to go out of your comfort zone, and to bring Christ to all, even to those who hate you, and most especially, even if it would cost you your life.
Saint Pedro Calungsod, help us to become saints like you. Amen!