Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Friday, February 6
For my February 2015 saint I have journeyed vicariously to Japan and the early efforts to bring its people the Good News.
Saint Francis Xavier was one of the first members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), and he spent considerable time in Japan in the 16
th century, starting about 1549, along with others. The rulers allowed these missionary efforts in hopes of developing trade with Europe. Their efforts yielded much success, but the government did not appreciate this: the rulers considered themselves divine, and did not want competition. In 1596 Christianity was outlawed.
We do not know much about these martyrs, twenty-six in all, but we can be awed by their devotion to God; it reminds me of 2 Maccabees 7, where multiple sons of one mother were unwilling to renounce their faith and suffered violent deaths in turn.
Paul Miki was a Japanese Jesuit brother, and he and his twenty-five companions are collectively called the Martyrs of Nagasaki. They were forced to march to that city, and were tortured on the way, to intimidate other Christians, now all outlawed. They were all killed by crucifixion on February 5, 1597 in that city; they were fixed on crosses, and simultaneously raised up so that the crosses sunk into holes previously prepared. Soldiers were stationed by each person, and they were then simultaneously stabbed with spears; the soldiers were astounded by the joy shown by these very brave disciples of Jesus at their cruel deaths. Paul Miki continued to preach until he died. There were 26 men executed (6 European missionaries (some Franciscans), 3 Japanese Jesuits, including Paul Miki, and 17 lay Japanese, including 3 young boys).
The Japanese rulers of the period favored extreme violence to quell dissent or anything they regarded as unfavorable. Sometimes spouses and children of condemned people were also executed in an attempt to send a strong message.
There were mass executions after this group of martyrs; often burning to death was employed. Faithful onlookers prayed the
Te Deum and
Magnificat and other prayers while they died.
The efforts to eradicate Christianity did not succeed, so in 1638 the rulers closed the country to foreign visitors. It was not reopened until 1865.
When the country was reopened, thousands of covert Catholics appeared, having hung on to the faith in a most tenacious fashion for so many years, without priests and the sacraments that only priests could offer.
The commemoration is given the rank of Obligatory Memorial. (
Daily Roman Missal, Third Edition (Scepter Publishers);
Magnificat, February 2015;
Butler’sLives of the Saints,
2nd Edition (Ave Maria Press))
Collect from the Mass of Saint Paul Miki and Companions: O God, strength of all the Saints,
who through the Cross were pleased to call
the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. (
Roman Missal, Third Edition)
I chose Saint Paul Miki and his companions, the other twenty-five saints, because they are not widely known in the United States, and because of their incredible heroism. They were the first martyrs of East Asia to be canonized (in 1862). I was also greatly impressed by the tenacity of multiple generations of Japanese to continue in the faith against all odds. Saint Paul Miki and all his companions, pray for us!