"I am here because of those ...who did not want the growth of God's Kingdom" Feast Day: 7 July

Peter To Rot was a married layman and a native of Papua New Guinea. A brilliant and intuitive catechist, this father of three was martyred "for the faith" in a Japanese concentration camp at the end of World War II, aged only 33. The willingness of this young man to "witness" in its particular sense as "martyr" is a sign of commitment to life in the Holy Spirit among the indigenous people of Oceania.

Blessed Peter To Rot was born in 1912 in Rakunai, Papua New Guinea, and is the first native beatified in Papua New Guinea. He was the son of a Melanesian tribal chieftain Angelo To Puia and his wife Maria la Tumul, who were among the first generation of Christians in the region.

Peter was a very spiritual person from a young age, as well as being a brilliant student. It was for this reason that the local priest, Father Emilio Jakobi, initially thought Peter might have a calling to the priesthood. However, God had other plans. He wanted Peter to follow Him intimately, but in a different way.

At the request of his father, Peter trained as a Catechist at the age of 18, so that he would be able to aid the missionaries in their work. It wasn't long before he naturally assumed a role as their leader.

Through his vocation he was able to bring his people closer to God. He organised catechesis in Rakunai, as well as doctrinal classes and prayer. He particularly liked to get to know people, and to become familiar with their everyday situations and difficulties. At the age of 24, Peter married Paula la Varpit. They would eventually have three daughters.

In 1942 the Japanese occupied Papua New Guinea. Missionaries and mission staff were imprisoned in concentration camps but, as Peter was not strictly a missionary, he was able to stay in Rakunai. He was able to work even harder for the Church, providing prayer services, doctrine and Catechism, administering Baptism and most importantly, preserving the Eucharist and giving it to those who were sick and dying.

While at first the Japanese did not completely ban Catholic practices, they later decided to absolutely forbid all types of religious gatherings and worship. In order to entice the local chieftains to side with them, they decreed that the practice of polygamy be reinstated.

Peter stood up for the sanctity of marriage and its significance in God's plan. Opposing not only the Japanese, he also publicly spoke out against his own brother, Joseph, who agreed with the reinstatement of polygamous practices.

Peter was arrested for his views. While many members of the community tried to get him released from prison, he was killed in 1945, as a martyr for our faith, by lethal injection.

Peter was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 17 January, 1995. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the ceremony was the hymn sung to him in Pidgin English by his people: 'Yu strong na yu tru', praising him for being 'strong and true'.

Blessed Peter To Rot is a great witness WYD08 pilgrims of the spiritual fruit of generosity to spread the Gospel through teaching and prayer. Through the Holy Spirit's gifts of understanding and reverence, Blessed Peter's life and death call you to honour the holiness of sacramental marriage between one man and one woman.

Blessed Peter To Rot, witness to family and faith - pray for us

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