Blessed Peter To Rot: A Martyr for our times

Peter To Rot was born in 1912. He was a married man and a father of three children. His name became famous during the Japanese occupation of East New Britain, one of the islands of Papua New Guinea. It began on 4th January 1942, and a few months later, all missionaries were ordered into strict internment. It was no longer for the missionaries to live in the villages with the people, and for that reason, people would die without sacraments. To Rot’s wife, Paula, recalled, “Peter To Rot continued his work as catechist during the war years, baptising, performing marriages, giving religious instructions, caring for the sick.” And Fr Carl Laufer, MSC, his parish priest, also declared, “When in 1942, at the command of the Japanese Marines, the priest in charge was forced to leave, To Rot assumed responsibilities in the parish and kept the Catholic people united. For approximately four years, he was the sole spiritual director, substituting for the internal pastor. Regularly, he assembled the children and adults for religious and secular instructions, conducted the Sunday services, baptised infants, officiated at marriages, visited the sick and buried the dead. He recorded parish proceedings in the register and was considered the leading personality among the Catholic native population for the duration of the Japanese occupation.”

The Japanese police and army became aware of Peter’s work and apostolate. Many times, he was called by the police and threatened. But he told his friends, “They want to take away prayer from us, but I shall do my work.”

To Rot’s best friend, Fr Laufer, wrote, “Secretly, at night, and in dug-outs, To Rot prayed with little groups, gave religious instructions, baptised the newborn babies and officiated at marriages. He travelled from place to place and encouraged his catacomb Christians: ‘They have taken away our priests, but they cannot forbid us to be Catholics and to live and die as such. I’m your catechist, and I will do my duty even if it costs me my life.’”

“During this time, -another missionary wrote- To Rot cared particularly for the sick and the dying. He visited them and prepared them for death, kindled their repentance and buried the deceased. When this was no longer possible officially, he did it secretly, even in the dark of the night, fearless of eventual consequences. His principle was: ‘God’s work is all and everything.’ Sometimes, he even walked to faraway Vunapope to fetch the Viaticum for the dying (6 hour’s walk). Afterwards, he invited the people to worship the Blessed Sacrament… ”

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Pope John Paul II: “When the authorities legalised and encouraged polygamy, Blessed Peter knew it to be against Christian principles”.

The Sanctity of Wedlock and the Polygamy Issue. By June 1944, the fate of the war was almost determined, and the Japanese knew that defeat was inevitable. Trying to go over this adverse moment in the best possible way, they called a special meeting of the village chiefs to gain their favour and keep their cooperation. “As a result of the discussion that ensued as to what compensation would be acceptable to the chiefs for their collaboration, it was decided that traditional Tolai polygamy, outlawed by the Christian Churches and previous Governments, would be legalised for all who would prove themselves friends of the Japanese.

His Martyrdom. During the Beatification, Pope John Paul II: “When the authorities legalised and encouraged polygamy, Blessed Peter knew it to be against Christian principles and firmly denounced this practice. Because the Spirit of God dwelt in him, he fearlessly proclaimed the truth about the sanctity of marriage. He refused to take the ‘easy way’ of moral compromise. ‘I have to fulfil my duty as a Church witness to Jesus Christ,’ he explained. Fear of suffering and death did not deter him. During his final imprisonment, Peter To Rot was serene, even joyful. He told people that he was ready to die for the faith and his people.”

Paula, To Rot’s wife, declared, “…Expressing my fears, I begged To Rot to give up the catechist’s way of life and to take up, instead, a quiet, withdrawn style of living. To Rot had replied: ‘Don’t you worry about that. It is my duty to die for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and for my people.’ Then he made the sign of the cross. He showed no sign of fear or grief. We sat together for a long time, and then To Rot urged me to take the children home.”

On the very night of his martyrdom, Peter To Rot said, “I am here because of those who break their marriage vows and those who do not want to see God’s work go forward. That’s it. I shall die.”

Indeed, that very night, some Japanese doctors came, gave him an injection, and that’s it. That night, Papua New Guinea lost his best catechist, and the entire Church won a defender of family and wedlock.

His Cause of Beatification. In 1952, just seven years after the death of the catechist, the Apostolic Vicar of Rabaul, Bishop Leo Scharmach, MSC, driven by the growing reputation of martyrdom and the increasing devotion of the faithful in the vicariate, decided to form a commission of three priests for a preliminary investigation into the life and circumstances surrounding the death of Peter To Rot. Unfortunately, despite the initial desire and enthusiasm provided by Monsignor Scharmach, the preparations for the opening of the Cause were practically abandoned for the next 30 years until 1985, when Bishop Albert Bundervoet, MSC, asked the Holy See the Nihil Obstat. The reason for this abandonment did not lie in any moral issue related to the Blessed, nor in any lack of interest or devotion from the people, but only in To Rot’s familiar circle because some members of his family had drifted away from Christian values, and were causing public scandals.

The process was resumed in 1987. In 1989, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints appointed a Relator, with Father Lucio de Stefano, MSC, as the Postulator, and with the invaluable assistance of Father John Dempsey, MSC. The Positio Super Martyrio was completed on December 3, 1990. On April 2, 1993, in the presence of Saint John Paul II, a decree regarding the martyrdom of the Servant of God, killed in odium fidei, was promulgated. The beatification ceremony took place on January 17, 1995, at John Guise Stadium in the city of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, during what was Saint John Paul II’s second and final visit to these lands.

Thomas Augustin Ravaioli, IVE (Vice-Postulator)