Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Colacicco, in officiating the annual San Lorenzo Ruiz Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, told the faithful, “Saint Lorenzo had but one life – one life lived in union with Christ, one life guided by the truth; the truth who is Jesus.”

San Lorenzo Ruiz is the patron saint of the Philippines. The Mass, a Filipino tradition, occurred the afternoon of Sunday, September 13, celebrated in English and some Tagalog, including the Prayer of the Faithful. About 800 people attended.

Living the gospel is possible  

“Had I a thousand lives, all these to Him shall I offer,” Bishop Colacicco, quoting San Lorenzo, said early in the homily. “These are the last words of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. These inspired words do not come from his passion in death but were the fruit of his faithful life – an offering of self from the very depths of his heart; for God, everything for God.” 

The bishop added, “But like each of us, Saint Lorenzo had but one life – one life lived in union with Christ, one life guided by the truth; the truth who is Jesus. We draw our inspiration from such noble words…The beauty of our Catholic faith is that we are part of a larger family of faith that unites us with the saints in glory. These saints who teach us by their holy lives that living the gospel is possible – not only possible but fulfilling. And not only fulfilling, but is the source of strength, especially in the face of one’s struggles.”

Bishop Colacicco went on to talk of San Lorenzo’s martyrdom and events leading to his death, including being falsely accused of murder, and he and others enduring a storm at sea. “We too are in a boat; we know that the early Church fathers taught us whenever a boat appears in the sacred Scriptures it is an image of the Church…Within this boat, we are taught the truths of the faith which formed and strengthened us; within this boat, we are safe during the storms of life.”

Stella Bersamen was among the faithful at the Mass, serving as a volunteer. Her home parish is Sacred Heart on Staten Island. “We are so very grateful to the archdiocese for this Mass, and to Bishop Colacicco, the celebrant,” Bersamen told The Good Newsroom before the liturgy. “This Mass is very important to us because we are honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz – we are celebrating our faith and our culture.” 

Closing words of gratitude were made by Fr. Rhey Garcia, chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York (FILCA). Fr. Garcia thanked Bishop Colacicco, the faithful in the pews, and the Mass organizers: the Filipino Catholic Apostolate and the archdiocesan Cultural Diversity Apostolate.

Several priests served as concelebrants, including clergymen of Filipino descent. Songs of faith were performed by the FILCA Youth Choir, in English and Tagalog. Bianca Mangonon served as cantor.

A life grounded in faith, until the very end

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, born in the Binondo area of Manila, grew in faith, nurtured by his Chinese father and Filipino mother. He served as an altar boy and sacristan for the Dominican friars, and later developed his skill as a calligrapher, transcribing sacramental documents for the Binondo Dominican parish. He married and had three children, two boys and a girl; his wife’s name was Rosario.

San Lorenzo’s life changed suddenly and dramatically when, in 1636, he was falsely accused of murdering a Spaniard. Lorenzo escaped with the help of Dominican missionaries. They boarded a ship headed for Japan during a time of persecution of Christians.

Later in Okinawa, they were captured, taken to Nagasaki, and tortured for their beliefs. Rather than denying his faith, Lorenzo suffered grueling martyrdom in September 1637 at age 42. The Church celebrates the feast day of this first saint of the Philippines on September 28. Saint Lorenzo was canonized in October 1987 by Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul II).