dominican saints

Joachim was born in Hinajosa de Jarque, Teruel (Spain) in 1691 and baptized on October 3rd, of the same year. His parents were Joachim Royo and Marianna Pérez.

In 1709, Joachim received the Dominican habit in the Priory of Our Lady of Pillar in Valencia. He left for the Philippines in the company of Peter Sanz and other religious on September 17, 1712. After his ordination, he was sent to the missions in China in June 1715. After remaining in Macao for a time, he proceeded to Fogan. In the first year of his missionary life, he served in Chuen-Cheu, not very far from Amoy. The town had a large, mostly pagan, population that needed a missionary. Joachim witnessed many conversions; people did not hesitate to destroy all their superstitious objects. He edified everyone with his sincerity and obviously spiritual life.

In 1717, Joachim received orders to go to the provinces of Kiang-Si and Che-Kiang, where for many years there had been no spiritual help from the missionaries. It was in 1656 that Fathers John Baptist Morales and Dominic Coronado had gone there, evangelized and built some churches which were abandoned when the missionaries were exiled.

Many of the old Christians received Father Royo with joy. His work was heavy but led to many conversions and visible blessings from God. In 1722, he was named Vicar Provincial of Fukien and had to leave his beloved missions in Kiang-Si and Che-Kiang.

While the persecution in Fukien raged, Father Royo, in Ki-Tung Mission, was in constant danger. He hid in graves, secret rooms and cemeteries. Fearless for the faith, he never hesitated to go out at night to administer the sacraments. Close to the feast of Christmas, he disguised himself as a peasant and returned to his mission of Ki-Tung. Two Lay Dominicans, Rose and Juliana, hid him in their home. He and Father Oscot celebrated Christmas Mass with Christians who came secretly. Although the enemies were informed of their presence, once more they miraculously escaped and hid first in one home then in another.

Finally, on July 3, 1746, some soldiers found Father Royo hiding between two thin walls. They destroyed the whole house, tied a rope around Royo’s neck and took him prisoner. Interrogated by the captain, Royo stated that he was 54 years of age and had resided in China for 31 years to “preach the Law of God.”

In prison, he was slapped, flogged and subjected to the ankle-crushing torment. Father Royo never stopped praying while in prison. On the day of martyrdom, at midnight, guards took him out of prison to an adjacent room where they told him to lie down. Then they covered his face and blocked up his mouth and nose with a thick paste made of eggs, paper and strong alcohol. “Then a sack of lime was thrown over his head and we stomped all over his body. He was able to take only a few breaths and then died,” said a witness.

This great Dominican missionary died a magnificent death and gained the palm of martyrdom on October 28, 1748. The following day, his body was burned and placed in a common grave for criminals. Later, some brave Christians went to the burial place and collected the remains of the martyr. 

Joachim Royo was beatified on May 14, 1893 by Pope Leo XIII.