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17TH CENTURY VISAYAN CATECHIST BEATIFIED IN MARCH

Cebu City, Feb. 13, 2000 - All Cebu parishes will peal their bells on March 5, the day that Pedro Calungsod, a 17th century Visayan catechist, will be beatified by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

In 1668, Calungsod joined a Jesuit mission to convert settlers on the island of Marianas to the Catholic faith.

On April 2, 1672, a native chieftain who had fallen from the faith, joined a non-Christian native, attacked Jesuit priest Fr. Diego San Luis Vitores and Calungsod in Tumhon beach, near Agana, Guam.

When Calungsod defended the 44-year-old missionary, a spear pierced his chest and a machete breached his skull. The priest suffered the same fate.

Calungsod died at 18.

The official decree for the beatification of Calungsod was promulgated on Jan. 27 by the Congregation for Causes of Saints in the presence of Pope John Paul II. The beatification of Calungsod next month gives him the title "Blessed" and makes him a candidate for sainthood.

Beatification is the act by which the church, through an official decree by the pope, permits a certain region, nation, or religious institute to venerate publicly under the title "Blessed" a dead person whose life is marked by holiness or heroic practice of the virtue.

In beatifying a person, the church recognizes his holiness and thereby proposes him to all Christians in the country of his origin for veneration, as a model for Christian living and as an intercessor before God.

At least two authenticated miracles are required before he can be canonized.

However, not until he has been declared saint will he attain the honor of veneration in altars worldwide.

Since the canonization of St. Lorenzo Ruiz in February, 1981, the Catholic Church in the country has been paving the way for the canonization of Filipinos of heroic faith and courage like Calungsod.