The people of Rakunai, Papua New Guinea, in 1942 would not have believed that their local catechist would be one of the great Catholic figures of the 20th century and eventually a saint. Yet that is exactly what happened. Peter To Rot was a layman, a husband, a father, a catechist. In the throes of World War II’s occupation, repression, and cultural pressure, he stood firm, quietly becoming a model of fidelity, courage, and pastoral love.
As one of the Church’s recently canonized saints (October 19, 2025), his life offers us timely lessons. Peter To Rot didn’t live that long ago, dying less than a hundred years ago in 1945. Let’s look at his story, then see what his example can teach us today.
St. Peter To Rot’s Life
Peter To Rot was born in 1912 in Rakunai, New Britain (then German New Guinea). His parents had both become Catholics in the late 19th century. Peter was educated at the local mission school, studied at St. Paul’s College of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and became a catechist in 1933. He carried his Bible, taught, baptized (due to the emergency circumstances of WWII and Japanese occupation), and led faith formation.
Peter To Rot married and had three children, one born after his death, and was by all accounts an outstanding husband and father. As we will see, his understanding and defense of the sanctity of marriage were so important to him that they led to his martyrdom.
In March 1942, Japanese forces occupied Papua New Guinea. Missionaries were interned, and Peter was entrusted with local spiritual leadership. As restrictions grew tighter and tighter, Peter To Rot stood up for the faith, even building a hidden ‘bush church,’ holding secret prayer services, and maintaining parish life as best as he could at great personal risk.
Eventually, that risk caught up with him. The Japanese began to encourage polygamy as a way of breaking down the culture, much like the enemies of Israel in Scripture tried to force the Israelites into idol worship or to break fasting laws. Forcing people to act against their values and convictions is a way of breaking down identity which makes people more docile. But Peter publicly defended Christian marriage, refusing to allow compromise. This made him a target. He was soon arrested and imprisoned. On July 17, 1945, he was killed by an attempted lethal injection and beating.
In 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified him as a martyr, giving him the title “Blessed Peter To Rot.” On March 31, 2025, Pope Francis signed the decree approving his canonization, set for this October 19th. Blessed Peter to Rot became Saint Peter to Rot on October 19, 2025, when he was canonized by Pope Leo XIV. His Feast Day is July 7.
Peter To Rot’s example for today
1. Lay leadership & collaboration
Peter To Rot shows that neither sanctity nor evangelization is reserved for the clergy. I have yet to visit the Church that doesn’t need catechists for some kind of faith formation, from children on up. Peter To Rot exemplifies a living faith that is a shared faith, and that service to both church and family can coexist. Take some time to pray this week and ask yourself where God is calling you to share your faith.
2. Marriage defended under fire
Peter’s defense of monogamous, sacramental marriage remains striking. Just living the sacrament puts you at odds with the culture. My wife and I, with our 5 kids, get looks every time we’re downtown in Austin, TX. Restaurants don’t know what to do with us. I’ve talked to people who visit Europe and come back depressed because the lack of children is so stark.
It’s easy to get into online arguments or shoot off a barbed comment or two, but how are you living your marriage? How does your family pray? How do you and your kids show the world what marriage is about?
3. Faithfulness even in secret
Peter kept parish life alive quietly, even illegally. We don’t have that pressure in the United States, but Jesus Himself speaks to the importance of an inner, and even secret, prayer life (Mt 6:5-6). We do have places in our lives where prayer is not welcome. How can we keep prayer and our connection to God alive and active in a hostile environment? Are there small acts of faithfulness that you can perform despite the potential repercussions? Ask God to give you the grace to trust and to stand for Him before anything else.
“This is a very bad time for us, and we are all afraid. But God our Father is with us and looking after us. We must pray and ask him to stay with us always.”
St. Peter To Rot
Saint Peter To Rot was a man who loved deeply, refused compromise, prayed boldly, and witnessed to Christ in the shadows and in the open. May we, with his intercession, live a faith that is both courageous and tender.
Learn More About The Saints
Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness
A Saint a Day: A 365-Day Devotional Featuring Christian Saints (True Stories of Faith)
Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers
Image: License details, Creator: Xavier Calvo Vergés, Copyright: Creative Commons.BY.NC.ND © All Rights Reserved 2022
