One of the most important reasons for the Thomasian Martyrs’ journey in martyrdom is to love and follow Jesus, which should be imitated by the people, UST Faculty of Canon Law Dean Rev. Fr. Romualdo Cabanatan Jr., O.P. said in his homily on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for the first day of the Triduum and Feast of the Thomasian Martyrs at the Santísimo Rosario Parish.

Cabanatan said that it is not merely about following Jesus but about the love that makes one embrace everything for Him.

“I pray that this important motivation may radiate in our hearts the same conviction to serve the Church and our society even in our own simple ways as followers of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Cabanatan added that people do not need to do what the martyrs did, but can love and follow Jesus through their own ways as students, professors, and staff.

Like the martyrs, who began weak, sinful, and with little or in humble circumstances, people are called to deepen their faith in order to follow Jesus.

“We can start to do something deeper here at UST. Our sincere love to serve the Thomasian community is always an opportunity for us to develop and strengthen this disposition to love and follow Jesus.”

Cabanatan said that the University serves as a meaningful place to nurture one’s love and commitment to follow Jesus, remembering the 17 Thomasian martyrs who died on mission in Japan, Vietnam, and Spain, and were later beatified and canonized as saints.

The Thomasian martyrs stood as a testament to their sincere love and devotion, shown through their willingness to join the mission without hesitation.

He ended his homily with the hope that the martyrs’ lives may inspire the faithful to hope in God amid trials and difficulties, and to remain devoted in their love to follow Jesus.

The Triduum and Feast for Thomasian Martyrs was held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 7, with the theme, “Pilgrim Witnesses of Enduring Hope.”