Saint Who?
Saints of the Ordinary
Saint Peter To Rot
Martyr († 1945)Feast: July 7
Peter’s father was a chief in a village in Papua New Guinea, and both his parents became Catholics before his birth. Peter was an obedient, helpful, and active boy, and the parish priest thought he would make a good priest. Peter’s father felt it was too soon for one of his people to be ordained. Instead, Peter was sent to study at a missionary school, and he returned to his village to serve as a catechist. He was an effective, organized teacher and always carried a Bible.
He was twenty-four years old when he married Paula in a Catholic wedding, although they also observed some traditional customs. They had three children.
During World War II, Japan took control over the island. Their priest was forced to leave, religious services were forbidden, and their church was destroyed. But Peter secretly held prayer services and built a small church. The Japanese had encouraged the people to return to their ancient customs, including polygamy. When a local man tried to force a married woman to become his second wife, Peter stopped him. The man retaliated by reporting on Peter to the Japanese, and he was arrested. So many people came to visit Peter in prison that the authorities decided to kill him, first through poison, and when that did not work fast enough, by strangling him.
Creator God, may we always stand up
for the sanctity of marriage.
