First, he made history as the first Filipino to become bishop in the United States. Now, he scores another first—this time as the first Catholic bishop in America to perform in a theater musical.
It may take decades for the Philippines to produce another saint, but some Filipino Catholic bishops are hopeful that the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod would spark an awareness of the call to holiness and “the age of saints” in the country.
Even before sunrise, the sleepy town of Ginatilan was already buzzing with activities.
The weather was chilly but the Filipino pilgrims were already waiting outside the gates of St. Peter’s Square as early as 4 a.m. Sunday.
The Philippines got its second saint Sunday with Pope Benedict XVI canonizing the 17th-century teen missionary Pedro Calungsod along with six other martyrs of the Catholic Church in a solemn ceremony at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
Pope Benedict XVI canonized the Philippines’ second saint on Sunday, giving one of the Church’s top honors to the 17th-century teen martyr Pedro Calungsod before throngs of Filipinos in St. Peter’s Square
Pope Benedict XVI is adding seven more saints, including Pedro Calungsod, onto the roster of Catholic role models as he tries to rekindle the faith in places where it’s lagging.
Sunday, 340 years after giving up his life for God, Pedro Calungsod joins the saints, with Pope Benedict XVI raising him to the altar at canonization rites in Rome.
Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Senato Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and former first lady and senator Loi Ejercito Estrada will lead the 3,000-strong pilgrims from the Philippines who will be attending the canonization rites at St. Peter’s Basilica, said Henrietta de Villa, secretary-general of the church commission preparing for Pedro Calungsod’s sainthood.
The canonization of Pedro Calungsod in Rome on Sunday is a “day of great spiritual joy” for the Filipino nation, Malacañang said Saturday.
Pope Benedict XVI will name seven new saints on Sunday including the first Native American and a Filipino martyr, marking the start of a “Year of Faith” aimed at countering the rising tide of secularism in the West.
