April 2 at an undetermined hour, a young Visayan was brutally murdered in a foreign land for no apparent reason other than that he was a servant of God. In the ripeness of youth, he was savagely hacked with a "catana", older version of the bolo, and hurled into the sea.
The tragic killing of Pedro Calungsod took place 328 years ago. Last march 3, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod together with 43 other martyrs who died for spreading the word of God. The Pope has also declared April 2 of every year as "Pedro Calungsod's Day."
Calungsod was a teen-aged native of the Visayas region. Having died at the age of 17 on 1672, Calungsod must have been born on 1655. He was one of the boy catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines to the Ladrones Islands in 1668, now renamed "Marianas," to evangelize the Chamorros.
Trained to be a catechist in a boarding school for boys run by the Jesuits in the Visayas in the mid 1600s, Calungsod mastered catechism and learned how to read, write and deliver discourses in Visayan, Spanish and Chamorro.
Calungsod was also skilled in the art of drawing and and painting, doing some carpentry work, deciphering and singing musical notations and even acting on stage. His exceptional ability was even more pronounced when he served the Holy Mass in Latin, which was at that time more complicated, being celebrated according to the Tridentine Rite.
Life on the island was extremely hard in the face of hostility of the Chamorros. Yet in spite of the resistance and resentment shown by the Chamorros, Calungsod never gave up and continued with his evangelization side by side with Fr. de San Vitores, the rector of the Mariana Mission. Pedro served as an assistant.
On April 2, 1672, Fr. de San Vitores and Calungsod ventured on a fateful journey to Tomhom on the island of Guam in the Marianas to perform some baptisms in the village and to recover a runaway servant. Because he was a Christian on a mission to catechize the Chamorros and helped in the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, Calungsod was viciously killed by two natives.
Calungsod could have used his physical prowess to defend himself and protect FR. de San Vitores. Calungsod was not a frail man. As a missionary frequently out on field, he was obligated to carry at all times an altar stone, kitchen utensils and food provision. But he did not raise a hand against his attackers out of obedience to his Father Superior. In shedding his blood for the Christian Faith, Calungsod proved himself to be a good soldier of Christ.
Tens of decades may pass before a beatified person can progress into sainthood. But before his canonization, other than witnesses' testimony to his virtues, there must be proof of two authentic miracles from him.
There have been instances of miracle manifested by Calungsod in people he sought his intercession.
There was this young man diagnosed with cancer of the bone in his leg. He was told by his parish priest and spiritual director to seek the intercession of Calungsod which he did. Shortly after, no trace of cancer could be found in his body and up to now he is enjoying good health.
Then there was this kidnap victim who sought Calungsod's help. Before a life could be stilled, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Eventually, friendship was struck between kidnapper and captive and the latter was set free.
Finally, a widower who had a drinking problem could not hold to a job. His daughter sought Calungsod's intercession. Today, the widower occasions his drinking and has a new life with a new wife and a good job.
Calungsod is a remarkable figure to capture the imagination and idealism of young people, especially in this new age. There is a need for a martyr for the youth to look up to. But Calungsod as a youth role model must be known to many young people. But with "Pedro's Day" considered to be a national event and hopes that this will signal the beginning of a massive acceptance among the youth. With Calungsod's beatification, it may be that Filipinos, especially the youth, will be led to a new understanding and love for Christ.
The tragic killing of Pedro Calungsod took place 328 years ago. Last march 3, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod together with 43 other martyrs who died for spreading the word of God. The Pope has also declared April 2 of every year as "Pedro Calungsod's Day."
Calungsod was a teen-aged native of the Visayas region. Having died at the age of 17 on 1672, Calungsod must have been born on 1655. He was one of the boy catechists who went with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries from the Philippines to the Ladrones Islands in 1668, now renamed "Marianas," to evangelize the Chamorros.
Trained to be a catechist in a boarding school for boys run by the Jesuits in the Visayas in the mid 1600s, Calungsod mastered catechism and learned how to read, write and deliver discourses in Visayan, Spanish and Chamorro.
Calungsod was also skilled in the art of drawing and and painting, doing some carpentry work, deciphering and singing musical notations and even acting on stage. His exceptional ability was even more pronounced when he served the Holy Mass in Latin, which was at that time more complicated, being celebrated according to the Tridentine Rite.
Life on the island was extremely hard in the face of hostility of the Chamorros. Yet in spite of the resistance and resentment shown by the Chamorros, Calungsod never gave up and continued with his evangelization side by side with Fr. de San Vitores, the rector of the Mariana Mission. Pedro served as an assistant.
On April 2, 1672, Fr. de San Vitores and Calungsod ventured on a fateful journey to Tomhom on the island of Guam in the Marianas to perform some baptisms in the village and to recover a runaway servant. Because he was a Christian on a mission to catechize the Chamorros and helped in the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, Calungsod was viciously killed by two natives.
Calungsod could have used his physical prowess to defend himself and protect FR. de San Vitores. Calungsod was not a frail man. As a missionary frequently out on field, he was obligated to carry at all times an altar stone, kitchen utensils and food provision. But he did not raise a hand against his attackers out of obedience to his Father Superior. In shedding his blood for the Christian Faith, Calungsod proved himself to be a good soldier of Christ.
Tens of decades may pass before a beatified person can progress into sainthood. But before his canonization, other than witnesses' testimony to his virtues, there must be proof of two authentic miracles from him.
There have been instances of miracle manifested by Calungsod in people he sought his intercession.
There was this young man diagnosed with cancer of the bone in his leg. He was told by his parish priest and spiritual director to seek the intercession of Calungsod which he did. Shortly after, no trace of cancer could be found in his body and up to now he is enjoying good health.
Then there was this kidnap victim who sought Calungsod's help. Before a life could be stilled, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Eventually, friendship was struck between kidnapper and captive and the latter was set free.
Finally, a widower who had a drinking problem could not hold to a job. His daughter sought Calungsod's intercession. Today, the widower occasions his drinking and has a new life with a new wife and a good job.
Calungsod is a remarkable figure to capture the imagination and idealism of young people, especially in this new age. There is a need for a martyr for the youth to look up to. But Calungsod as a youth role model must be known to many young people. But with "Pedro's Day" considered to be a national event and hopes that this will signal the beginning of a massive acceptance among the youth. With Calungsod's beatification, it may be that Filipinos, especially the youth, will be led to a new understanding and love for Christ.
- Sun*Star Weekend
By Fayette C. Rinen
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