🇵🇬 #NewSaintNovember continues with our 6th (of 9) newly canonized saints: St. Peter To Rot (1912 – 1945)
St. Peter To Rot is the first ever saint from Papua New Guinea – but a timely one for the whole Church.
His parents were among the first generation of Catholics in the region, having been baptized by missionaries some years before his birth. He was passionate about his faith from an early age and would go on to become a catechist, having excelled in his studies. He was known for carrying his bible around with him and having excellent recall of scripture. As a young man, he entered into a loving marriage and had three children, one of which is still alive today.
Following the outbreak of World War II, however, his life would take a drastic turn: the Japanese invaded and occupied his homeland, repressing Peter along with other local Catholics with increasing severity. Perhaps because they wanted to force local leaders into division with one another – given that Catholicism had only been practiced in the region for about a generation – the Japanese enforced a pro-polygamy policy.
Peter To Rot refused, continually affirming that marriage was between one man and one woman. As a result, he was martyred – but his witness to Christ and his Church lived on!
St. Peter To Rot stands as a beautiful witness to the sacredness of wedding vows and the beauty of marriage between one man and one woman. May all those in marriage and all those who aspire to marriage call on him for their prayer requests and guidance.
St. Peter To Rot, pray for us! ✝️
#NewSaintNovember #StPeterToRot #MartyrOfMarriage #CatholicChurch #CommunionOfSaints #FaithfulToTheEnd
