Pedro Calungsod - Soldier of Christ

Who is Pedro Calungsod? He is a Filipino martyr who was killed while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672. He is our second saint who will be canonized together with six other religious men and women by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012.

Pedro Calungsod

Pedro Calungsod is a Roman Catholic that teaches cathecism. He is a skilled sacristan and a companion of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas Islands. Many had received the sacraments especially that of baptism through them.

An influential Chinese in Macanas of Marianas Island named Choco made a plot to kill Pedro and San Vitores. He made false accusations that the missionaries were spreading poison through the ritual of the pouring of water like in baptism, and through the ritual of Catholic masses. Both of them were murdered by Hurao, a Chamorro chief in the island of Guam, after baptizing an infant and mother who were converted to the Roman Catholic faith. They were hacked with a katana, a Japanese sword, on April 2, 1672 at Tomhon, Guam. Calungsod's remains were mutilated and thrown into the sea.

Pedro Calungsod was born on 1654 in Ginatilan, Cebu and raised in Iloilo City. He came to Cebu to teach Christianity using the missionary text Doctrina Christiana propagated by Dominican Order priests. Before he was sent to Guam, he studied at the Jesuit town of Loboc, Bohol.

Pedro Calungod was remembered by his companion missionaries as a boy with very good dispositions, a virtuous catechist, a faithful assistant, and a good Catholic whose perseverance in the Faith even to the point of martyrdom proved him to be a good soldier of Christ.



Pope John Paul II beatified Father Diego Luis de Vitores on October 6, 1985 and Pedro Calungsod on March 5, 2000 at St. Peter's Square in Rome. The Pope was quoted as saying about Pedro:

"From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call. Young people today can draw encouragement and strength from the example of Pedro, whose love of Jesus inspired him to devote his teenage years to teaching the faith as a lay catechist. Leaving family and friends behind, Pedro willingly accepted the challenge put to him by Fr Diego de San Vitores to join him on the Mission to the Chamorros. In a spirit of faith, marked by strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, Pedro undertook the demanding work asked of him and bravely faced the many obstacles and difficulties he met. In the face of imminent danger, Pedro would not forsake Fr Diego, but as a "good soldier of Christ" preferred to die at the missionary's side."

Text source: Wikipedia
Image source: Pregunta Santoral


Can we follow the steps of Pedro Calungsod? Who died at Father Diego's side because he don't want to leave the priest alone? How many more of our young Filipino boys who are joining the priesthood will live the life and follow the steps of Pedro Calungsod? Please feel free to share your thoughts at the comment box below.