Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and companions

<p>Between 1633 and 1637, Lorenzo Ruiz and 15 companions were martyred in Nagasaki, Japan. Most of the group were members or associates of the Dominicans. Lorenzo, a husband and father, was a native of the Philippines. The group spent several years working as missionaries in the Philippines, Formosa (Taiwan) and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz and his companions were canonized in 1987.</p>
<p><strong>Saint Wenceslaus</strong></p>
<p>Wenceslaus of Bohemia (903-929) was raised a Christian by his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, but his mother and brother were opposed to Christianity and to Wenceslaus himself when he became ruler. Many nobles also objected to his strict reforms and political actions.</p>
<p>His brother Boleslaus, having lost the right of succession to Wenceslaus' newborn son, arranged to have Wenceslaus ambushed on his way to mass. Wenceslaus was killed in the attack and immediately acclaimed a martyr.<br /></p>
<p>©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>
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