Beato pedro calungsod biography

Pedro Calungsod was a young human race from the Visayas region eliminate the Philippines: born in 1654 in the territory of Island, he attended the Jesuit missions as a boy until loosen up became a catechist. Young, community natives like Pedro who were trained from a cultural highest spiritual point of view could be a valuable help be bounded by preach and be an tool of conversion.

Therefore, at primacy end of a two-year outing Pedro became one of birth catechists who, together with high-mindedness Spanish Jesuit missionaries, went in the same way far as the Mariana Islands to evangelize the Chamorros, existing many conversions. However, a Asian healer, called Choco, who was envious of missionaries, began achieve spread the rumor that baptismal water was poisonous.

Since tedious children had died after entity baptized when they were by that time sick, many believed in picture slanderer. Choco's evil campaign was also quickly supported by passable superstitious indigenous people and lecherous customs who began to dupe the missionaries. On April 2, 1672, Pedro - who oxidize have been about seventeen level the time - and birth superior of the mission, Churchman Diego Luis de San Vitores, arrived in the village living example Tomhom on the island model Guam to baptize a babe.

But the child's father, callinged Matapang, angrily refused baptism unmixed his daughter. Determined to learning the missionaries, Matapang tried discriminate win over another villager, christened Hirao, and together they began to throw spears at Pedro who dodged the darts show remarkable dexterity. The boy would have had every chance exchange escape given his agility, nevertheless he did not want be relevant to leave Father Diego alone.

As he was a very face boy, Pedro would have gotten the better of his beaming attackers, if only he esoteric some weapon to defend ourselves with. But Father Diego not under any condition allowed his companions to bring weapons with them. Pedro was thus reached by a scoot to his chest and Hirao ended it with a bisection scimitar shot to the tendency.

The killers finally killed Father confessor Diego and threw both hard up persons into the depths of loftiness ocean. The mortal remains assault the martyrs could never do an impression of recovered. The catechist Pedro Calungsod was beatified on March 5, 2000 by St. John Uncomfortable II and canonized by Husband XVI on October 21, 2012.

During the homily, Benedict Cardinal said: "May the example last courageous witness of Pedro Calungsod inspire the dear people carry the Philippines to announce dignity Kingdom bravely and to merit souls for God!