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| Pedro Calungsod | Flickr Photo |
Pope Benedict XVI announced on Sunday that Calungsod is among the seven blessed persons to be canonized as saints on October 21, 2012 in Vatican City.
The Roman Catholic Church had officially approved in December the promulgation of decrees for canonization of Calungsod after his miracle involving woman who was clinically pronounced dead for two hours following a heart attack in 2003. The woman was reportedly brought back to life through the intercession of Calungsod.
Blessed Pedro Calungsod will be named San Pedro de Cebu after his canonization. His feast is being celebrated by Catholics on April 2nd.
A lay catechist and a martyr, Cebuano Calungsod was killed at age 17 while doing missionary work in Guam in 1672 with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores.
"…From his childhood, Pedro Calungsod declared himself unwaveringly for Christ and responded generously to his call." Blessed Pope John Paul II had said during Calungsod's beatification in 2000. "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."
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