Pedro Calungsod was a 17th century teenage catechist of the Jesuit mission in the Marianas. On April 2, 1672 he was martyred for his faith together with Bl. Diego San Luis Vitoris, SJ in Guam. The canonization process for Pedro Calungsod started on June 25, 1998. On March 5, 2000 he was declared a "beatus". On December 19, 2011 a miracle through his intercession was approved. On October 21, 2012 he was canonized as a Saint together with 6 others at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI.
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The Miracle
The woman knew nothing about Pedro Calungsod prior to her astounding recovery. This event was instrumental in the final phase of the canonization process. Read full story |
PrayersPrayer for Personal Intentions
San Pedro Calungsod student, catechist, young migrant, missionary, faithful friend, martyr, you inspire us by your fidelity in time of adversity; by your courage in teaching the Faith in the midst of hostility; and by your love in shedding your blood for the sake of the Gospel. Make our prayers your own (Pause to mention your intentions) and intercede for us before the throne of Mercy and Grace so that, as we experience the help of Heaven, we may be encouraged to live and proclaim the Gospel here on earth. Amen. Cebuano Version
San Pedro Calungsod, estudyante, katekista, batan-ong migrante, misyonero, maunungong higala, martir: imo kaming gidasig pinaagi sa imong kamaunungon sa panahon sa pagsulay; sa imong kaisog sa pagtudlo sa inuho-an bisan sa taliwala sa mga pagsupak; ug pinaagi sa imong gugma diha sa imong pag-ula sa imong dugo tungod sa Ebanghelyo. Angkona ang among mga kabalaka (ibungat ang imong tuyo) ug pangaliyupo alang kanamo atubangan sa trono sa Kaluoy ug Grasya aron sa among pagsinati sa hinabang sa langit madasig kami sa pagpuyo ug pagsangyaw sa Ebangheiyo dinhi sa yuta. Amen Tagalog Version
San Pedro Calungsod, mag-aaral, katekista, batang migrante, misyonero, tapat an kaibigan, martir, patuloy mo kaming pinasisigla a iyong katapatan sa panahon ng pagsubok; sa iyong katapangan sa pagtuturo ng Pananampalataya sa gitna ng mag pag-uusig;at sa iyong pag-ibig sa pagbubuhos ng iyong dugo para sa Mabuting Balita. Angkinin mo ang aming mag pagkabagabag (Bigkasin ang iyong kahilingan) at ipamagitan mo kami sa harap ng Trono ng Awa at Grasya, Upang sa tuwing aming mararanasan ang tulong ng langit, kami'y magkalakasloob an ipahayag at isabuhay ang Mabuting Balita ni Hesus dito sa lupa. Amen. |
Prayer for Pope Francis
O gracious God, our shepherd and guide, look with love on Francis your servant, whom you have appointed as successor to Saint Peter. Grant him courage and wisdom, and fill him with love for your people. May he serve with fidelity all those whom you have entrusted to his care and bring your Church together in unity of heart and purpose as we seek to fulfill the mission of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. |
Nine-Day Novena Prayers
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Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we kneel before you in worship, praise and thanksgiving for the infinite love that you have shown to us sinners through your humble Incarnation, bitter Passion and cruel death on the Cross. By your wounds, we are healed. By your death, we are restored to life. Forgive us for not having returned love for your love. In your suffering, you have left us an example so that we may follow in your footsteps. The life of your young martyr and our brother, San Pedro Calungsod, proves to us that it is possible to follow you even up to death. Be pleased with this novena that we are making in his memory. With his help, we shall strive to be living witnesses to your love through patient endurance in daily trials and selfless service to our neighbor, so that after having joined you in your redeeming Passion here on earth, we may also come to share in your glorious Resurrection at the end of time and love you eternally in Heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. |
Closing Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God, you are glorified in your saints. Graciously hear the prayers we offer through the intercession of your holy martyr Blessed Pedro Calungsod. Guide and protect your pilgrim Church on earth. Grant your peace to our nation and to the whole world. Fill all our families with your grace. Preserve us in love and unity. Bless and guide our young people so that they will not be led astray. Help them to grow in faith, hope and charity. Convert those whose hearts are far from you. Comfort the sick and the lonely. Protect the poor and the oppressed. Welcome into your Kingdom our departed brothers and sisters. We thank you for the graces you have granted us through the intercession of San Pedro Calungsod. We hope that after our mortal bodies will have slept in death you will raise us up to new life on the last day as your saints and join San Pedro in praising your Name forever in heaven. Amen. |
First Day: Knowing the Faith
O San Pedro Calungsod, your faith in God grew stronger as you diligently tried to know the truths of our Catholic Faith. Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores chose and brought you as one of his trusted companions to the far-flung Mariana Islands to help him teach the Faith to the Chamorros.
O virtuous catechist, many of us have gone astray and have left the true Faith that we have received at Baptism because of our lack of knowledge of it. Encourage us to read and study our Catholic Catechism regularly. Make us understand that such an endeavor is not only for children but a responsibility of every Christian, so that like you, we may also be strong in faith.
Join us now as we pray for the Pope, the bishops, the priests and the cetechists, to whom God has entrusted the task of instructing us in the Faith, so that they may always be faithful and true to Christ who remains to be the same today as he was yesterday and as he will always be eternally.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, your faith in God grew stronger as you diligently tried to know the truths of our Catholic Faith. Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores chose and brought you as one of his trusted companions to the far-flung Mariana Islands to help him teach the Faith to the Chamorros.
O virtuous catechist, many of us have gone astray and have left the true Faith that we have received at Baptism because of our lack of knowledge of it. Encourage us to read and study our Catholic Catechism regularly. Make us understand that such an endeavor is not only for children but a responsibility of every Christian, so that like you, we may also be strong in faith.
Join us now as we pray for the Pope, the bishops, the priests and the cetechists, to whom God has entrusted the task of instructing us in the Faith, so that they may always be faithful and true to Christ who remains to be the same today as he was yesterday and as he will always be eternally.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Second Day: Living the Faith
O San Pedro Calungsod, nothing has been found written about your baptism nor about your preaching; yet we know that you are a Christian, not only by your Christian name, but more so by your faithful and selfless service to the Mariana Mission. Your companion missionaries testified to your virtuous life and they called you a good Catholic. These are but sure proofs of your baptism.
O true son of the Church, many of us are Christians by name, but not in deeds. Help us to live our faith in our thoughts, words and actions, so that iike you, we may be true followers of Jesus Christ and be worthy to be called Christians. Join us now as we pray for world leaders, so that they may enact laws and promote programs that are in accord with Christian principles for the common good of humanity and for the freedom to practice the Christian religion.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, nothing has been found written about your baptism nor about your preaching; yet we know that you are a Christian, not only by your Christian name, but more so by your faithful and selfless service to the Mariana Mission. Your companion missionaries testified to your virtuous life and they called you a good Catholic. These are but sure proofs of your baptism.
O true son of the Church, many of us are Christians by name, but not in deeds. Help us to live our faith in our thoughts, words and actions, so that iike you, we may be true followers of Jesus Christ and be worthy to be called Christians. Join us now as we pray for world leaders, so that they may enact laws and promote programs that are in accord with Christian principles for the common good of humanity and for the freedom to practice the Christian religion.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Third Day: Proclaiming the Faith
O San Pedro Calungsod, the grace of faith that God gave you was never in vain. Even as a teenager, you already shared your faith with others. You left your beloved family and homeland to serve the Mariana Mission. Despite the hard life and the cruel persecutions, you did not abandon the Mission.
O young missionary, give us a share of your zeal for the spread of the Gospel, so that even just through our daily ordinary words and actions, people may come to know and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Attract the young people by your example, so that they may use their talents and energies to share their Christian faith with others. Help those whom our Lord has called to the priesthood or to the religious life to be generous to God and to men by following the divine call and to remain faithful to their vocation for the propagation of the Faith. Join us now as we pray for the perseverance and success of all the missionaries of the Church.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, the grace of faith that God gave you was never in vain. Even as a teenager, you already shared your faith with others. You left your beloved family and homeland to serve the Mariana Mission. Despite the hard life and the cruel persecutions, you did not abandon the Mission.
O young missionary, give us a share of your zeal for the spread of the Gospel, so that even just through our daily ordinary words and actions, people may come to know and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Attract the young people by your example, so that they may use their talents and energies to share their Christian faith with others. Help those whom our Lord has called to the priesthood or to the religious life to be generous to God and to men by following the divine call and to remain faithful to their vocation for the propagation of the Faith. Join us now as we pray for the perseverance and success of all the missionaries of the Church.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Fourth Day: Being Poor in Spirit
O San Pedro Calungsod, while you were still here on earth, you availed of the good things your homeland could offer and you loved your family and your friends. But you did not let your heart be enslaved by any of these good things in life. And so, you were able to leave them behind when you were called to be generous and to love even more by serving God and others in the difficult Mariana Mission. You entrusted yourself to the loving providence of God, and you inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.
O poor in spirit, you are an icon of a person who is truly free. Help us tc liberate ourselves from the bonds of avarice that enslave us and that prevent us from serving God and our neighbor, Save us when we are envious of the power, wealth, well-being or abilities of others. Teach us to be generous like you, to trust in God's loving providence and to desire for the true wealth and well-being that lasts for all eternity, which is the blessedness in Heaven. Join us now as we pray for the sick, the poor, the oppressed and for all those who are in dire need of assistance. May we give them a helping hand.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, while you were still here on earth, you availed of the good things your homeland could offer and you loved your family and your friends. But you did not let your heart be enslaved by any of these good things in life. And so, you were able to leave them behind when you were called to be generous and to love even more by serving God and others in the difficult Mariana Mission. You entrusted yourself to the loving providence of God, and you inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.
O poor in spirit, you are an icon of a person who is truly free. Help us tc liberate ourselves from the bonds of avarice that enslave us and that prevent us from serving God and our neighbor, Save us when we are envious of the power, wealth, well-being or abilities of others. Teach us to be generous like you, to trust in God's loving providence and to desire for the true wealth and well-being that lasts for all eternity, which is the blessedness in Heaven. Join us now as we pray for the sick, the poor, the oppressed and for all those who are in dire need of assistance. May we give them a helping hand.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Fifth Day: Promoting Faith
O San Pedro Calungsod, you helped pacify the warring natives in the Marianas. And when your life was in grave danger during the bitter persecution, you did not carry any weapon for protection. When you were attacked with spears, you did not
retaliate even if it was easy for you to defeat your aggressors. These show your love for peace.
O instrument of God's peace, look with compassion on our hearts, on our families, on our society, on our country and on all peoples of the world where hatred and war would like to dominate. Help us to be humble and to learn to forgive. Teach us the way of peace, so that we may be worthily called children of God. Join us now as we pray for that peace which only God can give to the world.
(Spend a few minutesin meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, you helped pacify the warring natives in the Marianas. And when your life was in grave danger during the bitter persecution, you did not carry any weapon for protection. When you were attacked with spears, you did not
retaliate even if it was easy for you to defeat your aggressors. These show your love for peace.
O instrument of God's peace, look with compassion on our hearts, on our families, on our society, on our country and on all peoples of the world where hatred and war would like to dominate. Help us to be humble and to learn to forgive. Teach us the way of peace, so that we may be worthily called children of God. Join us now as we pray for that peace which only God can give to the world.
(Spend a few minutesin meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Sixth Day: Praying Always
O San Pedro Calungsod, while some of your companions in the Mission succumbed to temptations and left the Faith, you came out victorious in supporting the hardships and the assaults of the devil by your constant communion with God in prayer.
O good soldier of Christ, remind us always that our strength against the assaults of hell lies in our constant prayer. Defend us in our daily struggle against the power of evil that tempts us to sin, so that with you, we may also be victorious soldiers of Christ. Teach us to pray with confidence in the loving providence of God and to accept always the divine will. Join us now as we pray for the perseverance of contemplative communities in their prayer life, and for all families, that they may make time to pray everyday, so that they may be preserved in love and unity.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, while some of your companions in the Mission succumbed to temptations and left the Faith, you came out victorious in supporting the hardships and the assaults of the devil by your constant communion with God in prayer.
O good soldier of Christ, remind us always that our strength against the assaults of hell lies in our constant prayer. Defend us in our daily struggle against the power of evil that tempts us to sin, so that with you, we may also be victorious soldiers of Christ. Teach us to pray with confidence in the loving providence of God and to accept always the divine will. Join us now as we pray for the perseverance of contemplative communities in their prayer life, and for all families, that they may make time to pray everyday, so that they may be preserved in love and unity.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Seventh Day: Being a True Friend
O San Pedro Calungsod, your strong faith and deep love for our Lord made you loyal to your friend, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in the midst of the hardships and dangers in the Mariana Mission. In the face of a violent death, you did not betray nor forsake him, just as you never denied Christ nor left the Faith in the midst of persecutions. Instead, you remained beside that holy priest supporting him up to your last breath.
O true friend of Blessed Diego Luis, help us to be true to our friends and to seek only their welfare. Teach us to love them in the way Christ loves each one of us. Defend and keep us away from false friends who only want to take advantage of us and to ruin our lives, so that we may not lose the way to true happiness. Join us now as we pray for the sanctification of our friends, for the reconciliation of those who are not in good terms with each other, for the consolation of the orphans and the
lonely, and for the protection of the youth from false friendship.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, your strong faith and deep love for our Lord made you loyal to your friend, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in the midst of the hardships and dangers in the Mariana Mission. In the face of a violent death, you did not betray nor forsake him, just as you never denied Christ nor left the Faith in the midst of persecutions. Instead, you remained beside that holy priest supporting him up to your last breath.
O true friend of Blessed Diego Luis, help us to be true to our friends and to seek only their welfare. Teach us to love them in the way Christ loves each one of us. Defend and keep us away from false friends who only want to take advantage of us and to ruin our lives, so that we may not lose the way to true happiness. Join us now as we pray for the sanctification of our friends, for the reconciliation of those who are not in good terms with each other, for the consolation of the orphans and the
lonely, and for the protection of the youth from false friendship.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Eighth Day: Leaving Sin Behind
O San Pedro Calungsod, the threat of death did not stop you from continuing your mission to spread the Christian Faith in the Marianas. Instead, you gained courage by being prepared always to face the Divine Judge through a regular and frequent
reception of the Sacrament of Confession.
O young and pure of heart, make us understand that sin is the real cause of our anxieties and sadness. Teach us to acknowledge our sins and to be truly sorry for them. Guide us toward a regular and frequent reception of the loving mercy and forgiveness of God in the Sacrament of Confession. Encourage us to do penance for the good of our souls.With pure hearts may we share our joy in contemplating the face of God in eternity. Join us now as we pray for the conversion of hardened sinners,
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, the threat of death did not stop you from continuing your mission to spread the Christian Faith in the Marianas. Instead, you gained courage by being prepared always to face the Divine Judge through a regular and frequent
reception of the Sacrament of Confession.
O young and pure of heart, make us understand that sin is the real cause of our anxieties and sadness. Teach us to acknowledge our sins and to be truly sorry for them. Guide us toward a regular and frequent reception of the loving mercy and forgiveness of God in the Sacrament of Confession. Encourage us to do penance for the good of our souls.With pure hearts may we share our joy in contemplating the face of God in eternity. Join us now as we pray for the conversion of hardened sinners,
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
Ninth Day: Dying for the Faith
O San Pedro Calungsod, after four years of faithfully following the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ through a wholehearted service to God and fellowmen in the difficult Mariana Mission, you finally reached the peak of the Calvary of suffering. Your devout communion with our Lord in the celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was never in vain because you had become what you received: a pleasing sacrifice to God. The hatred for the Faith of those who refused to believe fell on you. But the many poisoned spears and the sharp cutlass did not overcome your strong love for God. You steadfastly held on to your faith in the face of a barbarous death until you won the palm of martyrdom and the crown of eternal life.
O fortunate lad! O hero of our Faith! Even though the grace of martyrdom is granted only to some, help us still to give witness to our Christian Faith as we try to accept and bear the daily hardships in life for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us to be constant and steadfast in faith until death. Encourage us always with the thought that those who devoutly
receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist will never be afraid to die because he will be raised up to life on the last day.
And when the hour of our death comes, do not forsake us until we reach the eternal Kingdom promised to those who faithfully followed Christ. Join us now as we pray for those who are persecuted on account of the Christian Faith, for the grace of final perseverance in the faith for the dying, and for the eternal repose of those who have died.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
O San Pedro Calungsod, after four years of faithfully following the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ through a wholehearted service to God and fellowmen in the difficult Mariana Mission, you finally reached the peak of the Calvary of suffering. Your devout communion with our Lord in the celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was never in vain because you had become what you received: a pleasing sacrifice to God. The hatred for the Faith of those who refused to believe fell on you. But the many poisoned spears and the sharp cutlass did not overcome your strong love for God. You steadfastly held on to your faith in the face of a barbarous death until you won the palm of martyrdom and the crown of eternal life.
O fortunate lad! O hero of our Faith! Even though the grace of martyrdom is granted only to some, help us still to give witness to our Christian Faith as we try to accept and bear the daily hardships in life for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us to be constant and steadfast in faith until death. Encourage us always with the thought that those who devoutly
receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist will never be afraid to die because he will be raised up to life on the last day.
And when the hour of our death comes, do not forsake us until we reach the eternal Kingdom promised to those who faithfully followed Christ. Join us now as we pray for those who are persecuted on account of the Christian Faith, for the grace of final perseverance in the faith for the dying, and for the eternal repose of those who have died.
(Spend a few minutes in meditative prayer)
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be. Closing Prayer
