Nagasaki Martyrs

Memorial

6 February

Profile

Twenty-six Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries and Japanese converts crucified together by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Following their arrests, they were taken to the public square of Meako to the city's principal temple. They each had a piece of their left ear cut off, and then paraded from city to city for weeks with a man shouting their crimes and encouraging their abuse. The priests and brothers were accused of preaching the outlawed faith of Christianity, the laity of supporting and aiding them. They were each repeatedly offered freedom if they would renounce Christianity. They each declined.

The Marytrs are:

• Antony Deynan
• Bonaventure of Miyako
• Cosmas Takeya
• Francis Blanco
• Francis of Nagasaki
• Francis of Saint Michael
• Gabriel de Duisco
• Gaius Francis
• Gundisalvus Garcia
• James Kisai
• Joachim Saccachibara
• John Kisaka
• John Soan de Goto
• Leo Karasumaru
• Louis Ibaraki
• Martin of the Ascension
• Matthias of Miyako
• Michael Kozaki
• Paul Ibaraki
• Paul Miki
• Paul Suzuki
• Peter Baptist
• Peter Sukejiroo
• Philip of Jesus
• Thomas Kozaki
• Thomas Xico

Died

crucified on 5 February 1597 at Tateyama (Hill of Wheat), Nagasaki, Japan; the Japanese style of crucifixion was to put iron clamps around the wrists, ankles and throat, a straddle piece was placed between the legs for weight support, and the person was pierced with a lance up through the left and right ribs toward the opposite shoulder

Beatified

14 September 1627 by Pope Urban VIII

Canonized

8 June 1862 by Pope Pius IX

Additional Information

Open Directory Project Christian Biographies, by James Kiefer
Episcopal Lectionary
Martyrs Hill, by Diego R Yuki, SJ
Message at Nagasaki, by Pope John Paul II
Catholic Encyclopedia, by Ferdinand Heckmann

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