This observance appears in the catholic calendar with liturgical color green .
Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr, was a 10th-century Duke of Bohemia known for his virtuous rule, promotion of the faith, and martyrdom at the hands of his brother, becoming the patron saint of the Czech lands.
Saint Wenceslaus was a Duke of Bohemia in the 10th century, renowned for his devout life and efforts to foster the nascent Christian faith within his duchy, often resisting pagan influences and striving for peace with neighboring territories. He is celebrated for his commitment to justice and charity, even personally cultivating wheat and pressing grapes for the Eucharist, demonstrating a profound personal piety. His life was tragically cut short when he was murdered by his own brother, Boleslav, on September 28, 935, cementing his legacy as a martyr and making him a revered figure and the principal patron of Bohemia.
Saint Wenceslaus, known in Czech as Svatý Václav, emerged from the tumultuous 10th century as a pivotal figure in the Christianization of Bohemia and a lasting symbol of national identity and devout kingship. Born around 907 AD, he was the son of Duke Vratislav I of Bohemia and Drahomíra, a pagan princess from the Hevellians. His early life was marked by a profound spiritual influence from his paternal grandmother, Saint Ludmila, who was a staunch Christian and took an active role in his upbringing and education. Ludmila, herself a convert, ensured that Wenceslaus received instruction in Latin and the Christian faith, fostering in him a deep piety and commitment to the nascent Church in Bohemia, which often stood in contrast to his mother Drahomíra's more traditional, pagan leanings. This early spiritual formation laid the groundwork for his future reign and his unwavering devotion to God.
Among the many tales that illuminate the devout heart of Saint Wenceslaus, one particularly shines a light on his profound humility and reverence for the Most Holy Eucharist. Though a Duke and ruler of Bohemia, Wenceslaus was not content to merely command or preside; his faith was a living, breathing part of his daily existence. It is told that he, himself, would rise before dawn, often in the crisp, cold air of the Bohemian mornings, and journey to his fields. There, with his own hands, he would sow the wheat and tend the vines. He would watch over the growing grain and the ripening grapes with the same care a shepherd gives his flock.
His purpose was not for personal gain or a bountiful harvest for his people, but for a singular, sacred end: that the bread and wine for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in his ducal chapel would be of his own cultivation. Imagine the Duke, his robes perhaps dusted with soil, his hands calloused from labor, personally tilling the earth, pruning the vines, and harvesting the fruits of his toil. He would then press the grapes for the wine and grind the wheat for the flour, ensuring that the elements offered at the altar were the purest, simplest expression of his devotion. This act, so humble yet so profound, revealed a ruler who understood that true greatness lay not in earthly power, but in service to God and in the deepest personal participation in the sacred mysteries. It was a testament to his belief that even the highest earthly authority was subservient to the divine, and that no task was too lowly when performed out of love for Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
c. 969-973 AD
Chapter 4: Of the Life and Character of the Blessed Wenceslas and His Rule. After the death of his aforesaid father, Duke Vratislaus, the whole of Bohemia began to be ruled by his son Wenceslaus. He, having received his training in the knowledge of God from his grandmother, the holy Ludmila, began to hold the reins of government with such piety and justice that he seemed rather a priest than a prince, and a shepherd of souls rather than a ruler of a kingdom. He was a man of such great sanctity that he preferred to live in poverty and humility rather than to enjoy the pleasures of the world and to rule over many kingdoms. He loved God with his whole heart, and his neighbor as himself. He was merciful to the poor, diligent in prayer, zealous in fasting, and constant in vigils. He was wont to rise in the middle of the night and go to the church, where he would prostrate himself before the altar and pray with tears for the salvation of his people. He would then return to his palace and attend to the affairs of state. He was also very diligent in cultivating his own fields and vineyards, from which he produced the wheat for the bread and the grapes for the wine used in the celebration of the Holy Mass. He did this with his own hands, showing great humility and devotion. He also built churches and monasteries, and invited many priests and monks from foreign lands to preach the Gospel in Bohemia. He was a true father to his people, and they loved him dearly.
Chapter 5: Of the Wickedness of His Brother Boleslas and the Conspiracy Against Him. But while the blessed Wenceslas was thus ruling his kingdom with piety and justice, his younger brother Boleslas, inflamed with envy and malice, began to conspire against him. He was a man of perverse character, given to all manner of wickedness, and he hated his brother for his virtue and his zeal for God. He gathered around him a band of wicked men, who were likewise enemies of God and righteousness, and together they plotted the death of the innocent duke. They persuaded many of the nobles and chief men of the land to join their conspiracy, promising them great rewards and honors if they would help them to overthrow Wenceslas and set Boleslas on the throne.
Chapter 6: Of the Martyrdom of the Blessed Wenceslas. When the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian drew near, Boleslas invited his brother Wenceslas to come to his castle at Boleslav, pretending that he wished to celebrate the feast with him. Wenceslaus, unsuspecting of any treachery, readily agreed and came to the castle. On the morning of the feast day, as Wenceslas was going to the church for Matins, he was met by Boleslas at the church door. Boleslas drew his sword and struck his brother on the head, saying, 'Now you shall no longer rule over us!' Wenceslas, wounded but not yet dead, said, 'Brother, what are you doing?' And he tried to embrace him, but Boleslas's men rushed upon him and pierced him with their swords. Wenceslas fell to the ground before the altar, commending his soul to God, and thus he received the crown of martyrdom. His blood stained the church floor, a testament to his innocent death. His body was then dragged out of the church and buried in a shallow grave outside the castle walls. But God, who never forsakes His saints, soon manifested the holiness of His servant by many miracles. The sun shone brighter, and a sweet fragrance filled the air around his grave. And the people, seeing these signs, began to venerate him as a martyr and a saint.
Commemoration as a public holiday in the Czech Republic, known as the 'Day of Czech Statehood,' marked by national celebrations and official ceremonies.
Saint Wenceslaus is the principal patron saint of the Czech lands and a symbol of Czech statehood and national identity, making his feast day a significant civic and religious observance.
Annual pilgrimages and liturgical celebrations at Stará Boleslav, the site of his martyrdom, drawing faithful from across the country.
Stará Boleslav is the historical location where Saint Wenceslaus was murdered, and it became a revered pilgrimage site for his veneration and remembrance.
The singing of the ancient Czech hymn, 'Svatý Václave, vévodo české země' (Saint Wenceslaus, Duke of the Czech Land), often performed in churches and at national events.
This chorale is one of the oldest and most significant spiritual songs in Czech history, deeply connected to Wenceslaus's legacy as a protector and intercessor for his people.
Veneration of his relics, particularly his skull, which is housed and displayed in the Saint Wenceslaus Chapel within St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.
His relics were translated to Prague and became a central focus of his cult, symbolizing his enduring presence and protection over the Bohemian lands.
Special Masses, cultural festivals, and community gatherings held by Czech-American communities in the United States.
Czech immigrants brought their veneration of Saint Wenceslaus to the U.S., continuing traditions from their homeland and celebrating their cultural and religious heritage.
Invocation as the patron saint of brewers and wine growers.
This patronage is linked to pious legends that describe Wenceslaus personally cultivating wheat and grapes for the Holy Eucharist, signifying his humble devotion to the sacred elements.
While not a dish to be eaten by the faithful, Saint Wenceslaus is famously associated with personally cultivating wheat and pressing grapes to produce the bread and wine used for the Holy Eucharist in his ducal chapel.
This culinary habit is a pious legend that highlights his profound personal devotion, humility, and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring the sacred elements were of his own pure labor.
Given Saint Wenceslaus's patronage of brewers and the Czech Republic's deep-rooted brewing tradition, the consumption of local Czech beer is a common festive practice on his feast day, particularly as it is a national holiday.
Saint Wenceslaus is revered as a patron saint of brewers, and his feast day, observed as a national holiday, often includes the enjoyment of this staple beverage, celebrating a significant aspect of Czech culture and his associated patronage.
As a patron saint of wine growers, wine, especially from the Moravian region of the Czech Republic, is often part of the celebrations on Saint Wenceslaus's feast day, reflecting his historical connection to viticulture.
His patronage extends to wine growers, and the consumption of wine on his feast day connects to the legend of him cultivating grapes for the Eucharist, making it a fitting beverage for the national and religious observance.
As the feast day of Saint Wenceslaus coincides with a national holiday, the Day of Czech Statehood, families and communities often gather to enjoy traditional Czech festive meals, which can include dishes like roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, or various other hearty regional specialties.
While no single dish is uniquely tied to the saint, the celebratory nature of the national holiday prompts the preparation and enjoyment of typical festive Czech cuisine, commemorating both national identity and the revered patron saint.
Saints Laurence Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, and his Companions are revered for their unwavering fidelity to Christ, enduring brutal torture and martyrdom in 17th-century Japan rather than renouncing their faith.
Saints Laurence Ruiz, a Filipino layman and catechist, along with his fifteen companions—primarily Dominican priests, a Japanese priest, and Japanese lay converts—are honored as martyrs who steadfastly refused to abandon their Christian faith during severe persecution in 17th-century Japan. Accused of murder, Ruiz fled Manila and found himself in Japan with Dominican missionaries, only to be arrested and subjected to horrific torture, including being hung upside down in a pit. Despite intense suffering, he and his companions, including Saint Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia and Saint Lazaro of Kyoto, chose death over apostasy, demonstrating profound courage and devotion. Their ultimate sacrifice serves as an enduring testament to the power of faith and an inspirational example for believers worldwide to remain faithful to their convictions even in the face of extreme adversity.
Born in the bustling Chinese district of Binondo, Manila, around the year 1600, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was a man of humble beginnings who would ultimately become the first Filipino saint and a beacon of unwavering faith. His father was Chinese, and his mother was a Filipina, and from an early age, he was educated by the Dominican friars at the local church. Lorenzo grew up to be a calligrapher and a skilled clerk, working diligently for the Dominicans in their convent and church. He led a seemingly ordinary life, marrying a woman named Rosario and raising three children, demonstrating devotion to his family and his faith within the vibrant Catholic community of Manila.
The air in Nagasaki was thick with the stench of fear and the cries of the persecuted. It was the year 1637, and the Christian faith was deemed anathema by the shogunate. Among those dragged before the relentless tribunals were Lorenzo Ruiz, the humble Filipino layman, and his companions, a diverse group of Dominican friars and Japanese converts. The interrogators, driven by a cruel zeal to eradicate every trace of the 'foreign religion,' demanded one simple act: apostasy. Renounce Christ, and live. Embrace the Buddha, and be free.
But for Lorenzo and his fellow confessors, such a choice was unthinkable. They had traveled from distant lands, or had embraced the faith in their own homeland, and their hearts were bound to Christ. The tortures devised were beyond human imagination. One of the most infamous was the *tsurushi*, or 'pit' torture. The victims were bound, one arm twisted backward, and then suspended upside down over a pit filled with human waste, their heads barely submerged. A small incision was made in their temples, allowing just enough blood to escape to prevent immediate death, prolonging the agony for days, even a week, in a slow, agonizing drain of life and consciousness.
It was during this horrific ordeal, as the pain gnawed at every fiber of his being, that Lorenzo Ruiz was presented with the final, desperate offer. 'If you will but renounce your Christ, you will be saved!' the officials urged, their voices echoing in the claustrophobic darkness of the pit. But even in the throes of unimaginable suffering, Lorenzo's spirit remained unbroken. His voice, though weak from torment, rose with an unwavering conviction that resonated through the chamber. 'I am a Catholic,' he declared, 'and I wholeheartedly accept death for God. And if I had a thousand lives, I would offer them all to Him!'
His companions, inspired by his fortitude, likewise refused to yield. Father Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia, Father Antonio Gonzalez, Father Miguel de Aozaraza, Father Vincente Shiwozuka, and the Japanese lay convert Lazaro of Kyoto, among others, each faced their own torments with similar steadfastness. They endured until their bodies could bear no more, their lives slowly ebbing away not from a sudden blow, but from the relentless, calculated suffering of the pit. Their martyrdom was not a moment of sudden glory, but a prolonged, agonizing testament to a faith stronger than death itself, cementing their place as eternal witnesses to Christ's enduring power.
October 18, 1987
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. "Alleluia! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever!" (Ps 107:1). These words of the Psalmist well express our joy and gratitude to God on this memorable day. We are gathered in this historic place, the heart of the Church in the Philippines, to celebrate an event of immense spiritual significance: the canonization of Lorenzo Ruiz and his fifteen companions, martyrs of Japan. This is truly a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing for the whole Church, but in a very special way for the Church in the Philippines, for whom the name of Lorenzo Ruiz is a singular source of pride and inspiration. It is an occasion for the faithful of this beloved land to reaffirm their Christian identity and their fidelity to the Lord.
2. The names of these new Saints are: Lorenzo Ruiz, a layman from Manila; Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia, Antonio Gonzalez, Miguel de Aozaraza, William Courtet, and Vincent Shiwozuka, priests of the Order of Preachers; Lazaro of Kyoto, a layman; Jordan of Saint Stephen, a priest of the Order of Preachers; Francis Shoyemon and Matthias, laymen; Thomas of Saint Hyacinth, a priest of the Order of Preachers; Lucas of the Holy Spirit, a priest of the Order of Preachers; Magdalene of Nagasaki, a religious; Marina of Omura, a religious; and Francis of Saint Bonaventure and Roch Gonzales, priests of the Order of Friars Minor. They represent a host of martyrs who, in the seventeenth century, sealed their fidelity to Christ with their blood on Japanese soil. Their witness of faith is a precious heritage, not only for the Church in Japan and the Philippines, but for the entire Universal Church.
3. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12:24). These words of Jesus find a profound echo in the lives of Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions. They were ordinary men and women, with their human weaknesses and strengths, but they were transformed by the grace of God and called to bear extraordinary witness to the Gospel. They willingly embraced suffering and death rather than renounce their faith in Christ. Their martyrdom is a powerful testimony to the truth that faith is a gift from God, a treasure worth more than life itself.
4. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, stands as a heroic example of Christian fortitude. He was a simple layman, a husband and father, who found himself caught up in the persecution in Japan. Accused of being a Christian, he was subjected to cruel tortures. Yet, he remained steadfast, refusing to deny his faith. His famous words, "I am a Catholic and I wholeheartedly accept death for God. And if I had a thousand lives, I would offer them all to Him," encapsulate the depth of his conviction and his absolute surrender to God's will. His life speaks to us of the universal call to holiness, a call extended to every baptized person, regardless of their state in life.
5. The companions of Lorenzo Ruiz represent the diverse facets of the Church's missionary outreach. There were priests, religious, and lay people; Europeans and Asians. They came from different backgrounds and cultures, but they were united in their love for Christ and their commitment to spreading the Gospel. Their martyrdom highlights the universal character of the Church and the enduring power of the Holy Spirit to bring people from every nation and tongue into communion with God. They remind us that the Church is truly catholic, embracing all peoples and cultures in the one faith.
6. The witness of these martyrs is particularly relevant for our time. In a world often marked by indifference, relativism, and even hostility towards religious faith, their unwavering commitment to Christ serves as a powerful challenge and an inspiring example. They remind us that following Christ demands courage, sacrifice, and an unyielding trust in God's providence. Their lives invite us to examine our own faith, to deepen our commitment to Christ, and to be ready to bear witness to him in all circumstances.
7. The canonization of Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions is also a summons to renewed evangelization. Their lives demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel and the enduring fruitfulness of missionary activity. The Church in the Philippines, which has received the gift of faith with such generosity, is now called to share this gift with others, becoming a vibrant center of evangelization in Asia and beyond. May the example of these new Saints inspire all Filipinos to be true missionaries of Christ, radiating his love and truth to their families, communities, and to the wider world.
8. As we celebrate this glorious day, let us commend ourselves and the entire Church to the intercession of Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions. May their prayers strengthen us in our faith, inspire us to greater love, and guide us in our mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. May their sacrifice bear abundant fruit in renewed holiness and missionary zeal throughout the world.
Amen.
Grand novenas, solemn Masses, and vibrant processions are held annually, particularly in his birthplace and the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born and raised in Binondo, Manila, which is home to the Minor Basilica dedicated to him, serving as a primary center of his veneration.
Prayers and intercessions are commonly offered to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz as the patron saint of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Filipino migrants.
His journey from the Philippines to Japan and subsequent martyrdom in a foreign land resonate deeply with the experiences of Filipinos working or living abroad, who seek his guidance and protection.
Filipino Catholic communities globally, including those in the United States, organize special Masses, cultural events, and community gatherings on his feast day.
These celebrations serve to honor the first Filipino saint, reinforce cultural identity, and strengthen faith within the Filipino diaspora worldwide.
The universal Church officially commemorates his feast day on September 28th with liturgical celebrations, including the reading of his martyrdom account.
This tradition marks the official recognition of his sainthood and the significance of his martyrdom and that of his companions as witnesses to the Christian faith.
A whole roasted pig, known for its crispy skin and tender meat, often considered the centerpiece of Filipino celebrations.
As a major feast day honoring the first Filipino saint, traditional Filipino celebratory dishes like Lechon are commonly prepared for communal meals and family gatherings to mark the occasion, especially in the Philippines and among Filipino communities worldwide.
Various types of noodle dishes, often stir-fried with vegetables and meat, symbolizing long life and good fortune in Filipino culture.
Pancit is a staple at most Filipino festivities. Its preparation for the feast of Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and his Companions signifies a celebration of life and a blessing for the faithful, consistent with general Filipino culinary customs for significant religious holidays.
A popular Filipino dish made with meat (often chicken or pork) stewed in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and peppercorns.
While not exclusively tied to this feast, Adobo is a beloved national dish frequently served at gatherings and celebrations in the Philippines, including religious feast days, reflecting the communal aspect of commemorating Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and his Companions.
A diverse category of Filipino rice cakes and sweet delicacies made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and sugar, often steamed or baked.
These traditional Filipino desserts are commonly shared during religious festivals and family celebrations as a sign of hospitality and joy. Their presence at the feast of Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and his Companions reinforces the cultural and communal celebration of the saint.