Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the

cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple
in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the
Spirit.
- Ephes
ians 2:20-22

Saint Pedro Calungsod (c. 1654 - April 2, 1672) is a Filipino Roman Catholic martyr who

was killed while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672. He was beatified on March 5, 2000, by
Pope John Paul II. As a skilled sacristan and teacher of cathecism, he was a companion of
Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to the Marianas Islands. Through their efforts, many receive
the sacraments especially that of baptism. A plot to kill Pedro and San Vitores started when a
certain Choco, a Chinese who gained influence over the Macanas of Marianas Island, circulated
false accusations that the missionaries were spreading poison through the ritual of the pouring
of water (i.e. baptism), and through the ritual of Catholic Masses. Calungsod and Diego San
Vitores were both murdered after baptizing an infant and mother who converted to the Roman
Catholic faith.

Lorenzo Ruiz is the first Filipino saint. He is also the

first Filipino martyred for the Christian Faith. Lorenzo Ruiz
was a layman, married, and had two sons and a daughter.
Born in Binondo, Manila, about 1600's, he was educated in
the school of the Dominicans there. He served as an altar
boy and later was a helper and clerk-sacristan in the
church of Binondo. He was a member of the Confraternity
of the Rosary. He made his living probably as a
calligrapher, one who renders documents in beautiful
[
Saint
Valentinefor
officially
Saint
Valentine
ofbe
Rome,
a widely
penmanship
private
or official
use. To
sure, is
that
work recognized third-century
Roman
saint an
commemorated
February
14 and
associated
since the High Middle Ages with a
denoted
accomplishedon
and
educated
person,
especially
at a time
when love.
many an illustrious personage were far
tradition
of courtly
from excelling in this art. An adverse event made him
leave
Philippines
in the
1636.
When
he was in his
All that
is the
reliably
known of
saint
commemorated
onlate
July 23 is his name and that he was
twenties
early at
thirties,
he became
or was
martyred
andorburied
a cemetery
on the involved
Via Flaminia
close to the Milvian bridge to the north of
accused
of
being
involved
in
a
criminal
case,
the
Rome on that day. It is uncertain whether St. Valentine is to be identified as one saint or the
circumstances
of which
are
far from
clear.
conflation
of two saints
of the
same
name.
Several different martyrologies have been added to later

St. PedroRuiz
St. Lorenzo
Calungsod

hagiographies that are unreliable.

St. Valentine BerrioOchoa

St. Valentine Berrio-Ochoa

Bishop and martyr of Vietnam. A native of Ellorio, Spain, he entered the Dominican Order and was
sent to the Philippines. From there he went to Vietnam in 1858, serving as a vicar apostolic and
titular bishopuntil betrayed by an apostate. He was martyred by beheading with St.
Jerome Hermosilla and Blessed Peter Amato, by enemies of the Church. He was canonized in 1988

St. Pedro Calungsod

by Pope John Paul II.

Whether he was involved or not, one thing was clear, he was afraid that, as a consequence of a
trial or mistrial, he might be given a death sentence. Upon landing in Japan where Christians
were being persecuted, he was arrested and imprisoned together with his companions. He
underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce
his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many
thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his
feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His
body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in
the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and
elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome. Their feast
day is on September 28th.

St. Valentine Berrio-Ochoa Bishop and martyr of Vietnam. A native of Ellorio, Spain, he
entered the Dominican Order and was sent to the Philippines. From there he went to Vietnam in
1858, serving as a vicar apostolic and titular bishop until betrayed by an apostate. He was
martyred by beheading with St. Jerome Hermosilla and Blessed Peter Amato, by enemies of the
Church. He was canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

During The Apostolic Church

During The Early Church

During The Roman Church
During The Medieval Church

During The Modern Church

The Apostolic period between the years 30 and 130 AD produced writings attributed
to the direct followers of Jesus Christ, and is traditionally associated with the apostles
and apostolic times. In the traditional history of the Christian church, the Apostolic Age was the
foundation upon which the entire church's history came to be based. The event of the Pentecost,
the coming of the Holy Spirit initiated by the first great evangelization by the Apostolic Church.
The Acts of the Apostle record the first thirty years of the history and progress of the church.

The Early Christian Church fell under intense persecution from the Roman Empire, beginning
with Nero in 64 AD. Early Christianity, in spite of persecution, flourished primarily in five centers:
Jerusalem, the birthplace of Christianity, and Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Byzantium. But it
was the powerful witness of Christian martyrdom that led to continued spread of the faith.
Persecution of Christianity under Roman rulers lasted for 300 years, until the Roman Emperor
Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which mandated complete toleration of Christianity in
the Roman Empire. The Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches originate from the Eastern
centers of Antioch, Alexandria, and Byzantium, while the Western Latin rite originates from Rome.
The Roman persecutions of Christians stopped when Emperor Constantine granted religious
freedom Christians by signing a law Edict of Milan in A.D. 315.
Christians where finally allowed to openly believe and worship Jesus Christ, many Christian building
returned to them and many churches where built. Liturgy was enriched and became an elaborate
celebration. Christianity was declared as the official religion of the Roman Empire. Many joined the
church. However although they were baptized, they often did not have sufficient instruction and
succumbed to various heresies. This led to the weakening of the Christian faith. This prompted the
early church to develop the proclamation of the good news by defining basic teachings that clarified
the identity of Jesus.

The Medieval Church is the church in the Middle Ages. Middle Ages stand in between the
ancient and the modern times. A long span of years, almost a millennium as early as the seventh
century, the Roman Empire began to weaken due to migrations of northern tribes across Europe.
The barbarian tribes plundered city after city until Rome was taken. The Roman Empire collapsed
and was replaced by many small kingdoms ruled by a strong warrior. With the fall of Roman
Empire, civilization in Europe halted due to the destruction of educational and government
institutions, which are considered two Romans legacies.