Today, March 27, is the memorial of Saint Pedro Calungsod.
Born in 1654, Pedro was educated by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the Visayas. He could thus read, write, and speak Chamorro, Spanish, and Visayan. He was also skilled in painting, drawing, singing, and carpentry.
In 1668, he became a teenage lay catechist who served with the Spanish Jesuit missionaries. Despite the danger posed by the hostile Chamorros in what is now the Marianas Islands, Pedro and his companions continued on in preaching and catechizing the people.
As the Chamorros did not approve of Christians doing missions and performing the sacraments, Pedro was killed by natives. He died trying to defend Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores. Pedro could have escaped, but he chose to stay and be with Father Diego Luis. Pedro was hacked to death. His body was thrown into the sea.
He was beatified in 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI canonized him in 2012.
His memorial is originally April 2. However, when April 2 falls within Holy Week or the Octave of Easter, his memorial is transferred to the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent, the day after the Friday of Sorrows and before Palm Sunday.