Peter To Rot was the first saint to be canonized from Papua New Guinea, which was conducted by Pope Leo XIV on 19 October 2025 in St Peter’s square. Peter To Rot was a lay catechist who was martyred in 1945 for continuing his apostolate despite a ban imposed by the Japanese who occupied Papua New Guinea at the time. His parents were baptized Catholic before his birth. He was instructed in the faith by his parents and by the missionaries of the Sacred Heart. When the Japanese invaded the island, they at first just banned missionaries from evangelizing the faith, but then after a period of time, banned all practice of the Christian faith. Peter To Rot was arrested for his defense of Christian marriage, which conflicted to the traditional customs on the island that allowed polygamy. He died on 7 July 1945 while in prison. He was honored as a martyr of the faith by Pope John Paul II at his beatification in 1995.
This week we will hear from the prophet Hosea in the first readings at daily mass. He prophesied before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 8th century BC. Today, we hear how Hosea was unhappy about the kings and princes who had been chosen by the people as their leaders. Many of them had made false idols for worship that led the people away from God. We can compare the leaders that Hosea calls out to the leadership Jesus embodies in today’s Gospel. Jesus was the good shepherd to the people. Jesus was a servant leader who led by example. He had compassion for the burdens and troubles of the people. We should expect the same servant leadership in our elected officials. Our readings from Hosea and the Gospel of Matthew are certainly relevant to our lives today.
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