san pedro calunsod

• Saints are the models of faith, especially those who believed and followed Jesus the Christ, and were persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and killed.
• Martyrs did not renounce their faith and remained true to their beliefs even if the consequence meant death.
• Saint Pedro Colonsor el Viseo was born around 1654 in Visayas, part of the Philippines controlled by the Spanish Empire.
• Young Pedro Colonsor el Viseo excelled in the study of the catechism and likely honed his skills in drawing, painting, singing, acting, and carpentry as these were necessary in missionary work.
• Pedro Colonsor el Viseo volunteered with the missionaries during their trips to different islands.
• In 1668, Pedro Colonsor el Viseo was amongst the young catechists chosen to accompany Jesuit missionaries to the Isla de los Ledrones, which meant the Isle of Thieves.
• The missionaries persevered in the Isla de los Ledrones despite the hardships, and the mission was blessed with many conversions.
• The missionaries were sustained in their mission by their daily celebration of the Eucharist, frequent confession, and great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• A Chinese immigrant named Choco decided to make life difficult for Pedro and his companions, as he was envious of the missionaries gaining reputation among the natives.
• Choco immediately teamed up with mcconhas, the local sorcerers, and started spreading rumors that the water used for baptism by the missionaries was poisonous, leading to the death of children.
• An angry mob rose up against the holy missionaries, leading to their persecution.
• The worst of the persecution occurred on April 2nd, 1672, when Pedro and a priest companion arrived at Guam that morning, learning that the wife of the village's chief had been killed.
• Pedro Callingsod's feast day is April 2nd, the date of his death.
• Many believed that if Pedro had weapons, he could have defeated Mata Pong, but Padre Diego never allowed the missionaries to carry them.
• Pedro, who was 17 years old, was determined to protect the missionaries, so he stood there facing the spears and covering them as best as he could.
• Pedro Callingsod is a saint especially for the young people and for catechists, and can be looked up to by migrants and evangelists.
• Mata Pong was a Christian and a friend of the missionaries, but he had changed his stand when he heard the rumors that Choco and his gang were spreading.
• Pedro and Padre Diego gathered the children and some adults of the village at the nearby shore and started chanting with them the truths of the Catholic faith.
• A spear pierced Pedro's chest and he collapsed to the ground, and Padre Diego could not do anything but give him the final sacrament before he died.
• Pedro Callingsod was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 5, 2000 in Rome, and canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012 in Rome.
• Tapang had given birth to a daughter, and Father Diego and other missionaries immediately went to their house to offer to baptize their daughter.
• Mata Pong went away and tried to enlist another villager, a pagan named Hirao, but Hirao liked the missionaries and he remembered their kindness towards the natives, so he refused to join Mata Pong.
• Mata Pong was angry and branded Hirao a coward, but Hirao agreed as he couldn't disobey his chief.
• Mata Pong angrily refused to have his baby christened.
• Mata Pong shouted out his disgust with Christian teachings and was resolved to have the missionaries killed.