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The Martyrs of Japan

          Saint Paul Miki and Companions

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There were 26, martyred the same day, February 5, 1597 ………

In the year 1549 Saint Francis Xavier arrived in Japan and converted many pagans.

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Already in the year 1597 there were several thousand Christians in that country. And an extremely cruel and vicious emperor came to the government, who ordered that all Catholic missionaries should leave Japan within six months. But the missionaries, instead of fleeing the country, what they did was hide, to be able to continue helping the Christians. They were discovered and brutally martyred. Those who died on this day in Nagasaki were 26. Three Jesuits, six Franciscans and 16 Japanese Catholic laity, who were catechists and had become Franciscan tertiaries.

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The Jesuit martyrs were: San Pablo Miki, a Japanese from a high social class family, son of an army captain and a very good preacher: San Juan Goto and Santiago Kisai, two Jesuit coadjutor brothers. The Franciscans were: San Felipe de Jesús, a Mexican who had gone on a mission to Asia. San Gonzalo García who was from India, San Francisco Blanco, San Pedro Bautista, superior of the Franciscans in Japan and San Francisco de San Miguel.

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Among the laity were: a soldier: San Cayo Francisco; a doctor: San Francisco de Miako; a Korean: San Leon Karasuma, and three thirteen-year-old boys who helped the priests at Mass: the children: San Luis Ibarqui, San Antonio Deyman, and San Totomaskasaky, whose father was also martyred

The 26 Catholics had their left ears cut off, and so bloodied they were carried in the middle of winter on foot, from town to town, for a month, to punish and frighten all those who wanted to become Christians.

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Upon reaching Nagasaki they were allowed to confess to the priests, and then they were crucified, tying them to the crosses with ropes and chains on their legs and arms and fastening them to the tree with an iron ring around their necks. Between one cross and another there was a distance of one and a half meters he Catholic Church declared them saints in 1862.

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Witnesses of his martyrdom and death relate it as follows: «Once crucified, it was admirable to see the fervor and patience of all. The priests encouraged others to suffer everything for the love of Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls. . Father Pedro was immobile, with his eyes fixed on heaven. Brother Martín sang psalms, in thanksgiving to the goodness of God, and between phrases he repeated that prayer from Psalm 30: «Father, in your hands I commend my spirit. «Brother Gonzalo fervently prayed the Our Father and the Hail Mary.»

It seemed to Father Pablo Miki that that cross was the most honorable pulpit or place to preach that they had obtained for him, and he began to tell everyone present (Christians and the curious) that he was Japanese, that he belonged to the company of Jesus, or Society of Jesuit Fathers, who was dying for having preached the gospel and thanking God for having granted him the enormous honor of being able to die for propagating the true religion of God. He then added the following words:

«At this final moment of my existence on earth, surely none of you will believe that I am going to dare to say what is not true. I declare then that the best way to achieve salvation is to belong to the Christian religion, to be Catholic. And as my Lord Jesus Christ taught me with his words and his good examples to forgive those who have offended us, I declare that I forgive the head of the nation who gave the order to crucify us, and all those who have contributed to our martyrdom, and I recommend that you hopefully be instructed in our holy religion and get baptized. «

Then, turning his eyes to his companions, he began to encourage them in that decisive fight; There was a great joy on everyone’s face, especially in that of the boy Luis; When another Christian who would soon be in Paradise shouted at him, he attracted everyone’s gaze for the joyful gesture he made.

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The child Antonio, who was next to Luis, with his eyes fixed on the sky, after having invoked the most holy names of Jesus, Joseph and Mary, was able to sing the psalms that he had learned in catechism class. Others were heard saying continually: «Jesus, Joseph and Mary, I give you my heart and soul.» Several of those crucified advised the people present to remain faithful to our holy religion forever. Then the executioners drew their spears and struck each of the crucified two spears, thereby ending their lives in a few moments. The horrified Christian people shouted: Jesus, Joseph and Mary!