Blessed Pedro Calungsod : 2nd Filipino Saint

This coming Sunday, another Filipino will be granted sainthood. 

Who is Blessed Pedro Calungsod?

Blessed Pedro Calungsod was born on 1655. Historical records never mentioned his exact place of origin and merely identified him as Bisaya. Historical research identifies Ginatilan in Cebu, Hinunangan and Hinundayan in Southern Leyte, and Molo district in Iloilo as probable places of origin. Loboc in Bohol also makes a claim. These places were parts of the Diocese of Cebu during the time of Calungsod’s martyrdom.

Blessed Pedro Calungsod

Few details of his early life prior to missionary work and death are known. It is probable that he received basic education at a Jesuit boarding school, mastering the Catechism and learning to communicate in Spanish. He likely honed his skills in drawing, painting, singing, acting, and carpentry as these were necessary in missionary work. Calungsod would have been expected to have some aptitude in serving in the Tridentine Mass (now known as the extraordinary form of Roman Rite)

Calungsod, then around 14 was among the exemplary young catechists chosen to accompany the Jesuits in their mission to the Ladrones Islands (Isles of Thieves). In 1668, Calungsod travelled with Spanish Jesuit missionaries to these islands, renamed the Mariana Islands the year before in honor of both the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Queen Regent of Spain, Maria Ana of Austria, who funded their voyage. Calungsod and San Vitores went to Guam to catechize the native Chamorros.

Missionary life was difficult as provisions did not arrive regularly, the jungles and terrain were difficult to traverse, and the islands were frequently devastated by typhoons. Despite all these, the mission persevered, and was able to convert a significant numbers of locals.

A Chinese merchant named Choco began spreading rumors that the baptismal water used by missionaries was poisonous. As some sickly Chamono infants who were baptized eventually died, many believed the story and held the missionaries responsible. Choco was readily supported by the macanjas (medicine men) and urritaos (young males) who despised the missionaries.

In search for a runaway companion named Esteban, Calungsod and San Vitores came to the village of Tumon, Guam on April 2, 1672. There they learnt that the wife of the village chief Mata'pang gave birth to a daughter and they immediately went to baptize the child. Influenced by the calumnies of Choco, the chief strongly opposed

Determined to kill the missionaries, Mata’pang went away and tried to enlist another villager named Hirao, who was not a Christian. Hirao initially refused, mindful of the missionaries’ kindness towards the natives, but when Mata’pang branded him coward, he became piqued and capitulated. Meanwhile, during the brief absence of Mata’pang from his hut, San Vitores and Calungsod baptized the baby girl, with the consent of her Christian mother.

When Mata’pang learned of his daughter baptism, he became even more furious. He violently hurled spears first at Pedro, who was able to dodge the spears. Witnesses claim that Calungsod could have escaped the attack, but did not want to leave San Vitores alone. Those who knew Calungsod personally meanwhile believed that he could have defeated the aggressors with weapons; San Vitores however banned his companion to carry arms. Calungsod was hit in the chest by a spear and he fell to the ground, then Hirao immediately charged towards him and finished him off with a machete blow to the head. San Vitores absolved Calungsod before he too was killed.

Mata’pang took San Vitores crucifix and pounded it with a stone whilst blaspheming God. Both assassins then denuded the corpses of Calugsod and San Vitores, tied large stones to their feet, brought them out to sea on their proas and threw them into the water.

In Roman Catholic Church, Calungsod’s martyrdom is called In Odium Fidei or In Hatred of the Faith, referring to the religious persecution endured by the person in evangelization.

Martyrs do not just die for the Catholic faith. They live the faith before they become martyrs. Blessed Pedro Calungsod was endowed with the Christian virtues needed by saints and martyrs to live and to die for Catholic faith.

Blessed Pedro Calungsod, together with six others, will be canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012 at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.