Why Have There Been Only Two Filipino Saints?

When we speak of Filipino saints, we Filipinos immediately turn our thoughts to St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod, the only two canonized saints the Philippines has produced. They were proclaimed saints in 1987 and 2012, respectively.

This brings up a serious question: Why have there been only two Filipino saints? Aren’t we a totally Catholic country and culture?

Qualifications for sainthood

Church law says the main credentials for official sainthood are these: “a heroic practice of virtues”, “outstanding example of love of God and neighbor” (like Mother Teresa and St. Maximilian Kolbe) or “martyrdom in the defense of the faith or of virtue.” Many have been officially canonized not only in the defense of the faith but also in the exaltation of the virtues of justice, chastity, peace and patriotism.

One wonders, therefore, how there have could been no other Filipinos who have lived heroically virtuous lives, been exemplary in acts of charity and chastity or self-sacrificing in the promotion of justice, peace and love of country. Didn’t our national heroes shed blood in their fight for sovereignty? Didn’t many Filipino men and women die at the hands of Japanese soldiers during the war defending their honor?

Closer to our day, didn’t countless Filipinos suffer torture and death to fight for freedom and democracy during the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos in the 70s? Didn’t opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. (“Ninoy”) himself go through an undignified death at the airport tarmac on a mission of peace?

Trappings of religion

Consider these: the Philippines, a staunchly Catholic nation, boasts of majestic cathedrals and basilicas with ornate altars and grandiose houses of worship. Many were built centuries ago.

Apparently, these don’t guarantee spiritual perfection or sainthood. Indeed, they are landmarks of advanced culture and art, but as one Catholic lay writer puts it: it is man who is called to holiness – not the material products of his creative mind and artistic hands. These are mere perishable trappings of religion.

Saints from non-Christian nations

Think about this: there are more saints canonized from non-Christian Asian countries such as Korea, Vietnam, and Japan than from the Philippines! Hundreds of them!

The twenty-six martyrs of Japan who were executed by crucifixion in 1597 were proclaimed saints by Pope Pius IX in 1862. In May 1984, 103 Korean martyrs who were victims of religious persecution in the 19^th century were canonized. In 1988, 117 Vietnamese Christian martyrs who died between 1820 and 1862 were proclaimed saints by Pope John Paul II, himself a saint.

In 1987, the sixteen martyrs (among them our own Lorenzo Ruiz) of Japan who were also persecuted and suffered torture in defense of the Catholic faith in the 17^th century were conferred the halo by Pope John Paul II. (He canonized more saints than all popes before him – sending the message that anyone can become a saint.) The halo of sanctity is not reserved only for clergy and religious.

What could have gotten into the minds and souls of these Christian martyrs from non-Christian nations to give up their lives for the Catholic faith? Something wondrous must have happened to them!

Korea, Vietnam and Japan cannot boast of the oldest Catholic church, the oldest Catholic school or university, the largest number of religious congregations or the most widespread practice of devotions. Yet, Filipinos have all the spiritual resources for sainthood within their means and reach.

Avoiding sacrifice

Why are there only two Filipino canonized saints? Perhaps it is because Filipinos practice their faith only when everything is going their way (and not when the going gets rough). Or maybe it’s because they baptize their children out of a social obligation and get canonically married because it is a revered custom.

Other questions need to be asked: are there few saints because Filipinos are Christians on Sundays only and then it’s “mind your own business” the rest of the week? Is it because their piety is detached from their day-to-day life? Is it because there are more “cafeteria Catholics” than authentic Christians? Is it because today’s parents prefer that their children live the good life (spoil them rotten even) rather than pray that the latter may someday contemplate entering the religious life?

The reason may be that Filipinos – including our clergy – tend to avoid sacrifice like a plague. Many of our priests would prefer to stay put in their comfortable, air-conditioned rectories rather than visit parishioners in their homes. Their excuse: “There are so few of us and we already have a lot on our plate.” If only we Catholics had the religious zeal of the Mormons.

We don’t walk but drive our cars to attend the holy sacrifice of the Mass. We prefer air-conditioned confessionals and chapels. We fret and get grouchy when we sweat inside churches with no air-conditioning. We celebrate feasts with sumptuous banquets and wild merry-making. A sober, simple life? Forget it! You live only once and you’ve got to eat, drink and have fun whenever you can! It’s an escape from the drudgery of daily work and our humdrum existence.

Many paths to sanctity

There are many routes to sainthood other than martyrdom. And surely, there have been innumerable Filipino heroes – nameless and unsung – who demonstrated heroism by acts of love, sacrifice and sanctity. They deserve to be proclaimed saints with a capital ‘S’. They will be an example for the rest of us.