Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and his companions, also known as the Martyrs of Japan.
Paul Miki was born (around 1562) into a wealthy Japanese family. He was educated by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki. He joined the Society of Jesus and became a well known and successful preacher – gaining numerous converts to Catholicism. The local daimyō (feudal lord), Toyotomi Hideyoshi, began persecuting Catholics for fear of the Jesuits' influence and intentions, and possibly that of European visitors.
Miki was arrested and jailed with his fellow Catholics, who were later forced to march 966 kilometers (600 miles) from Kyoto to Nagasaki; all the while singing the Te Deum. On February 5, 1597, upon arriving in Nagasaki—which today has the largest Catholic population in Japan—Miki was tied to a cross and then his chest was pierced.
How often did Paul Miki repeat the words uttered by Solomon in today's first reading: Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below (1 Kings 8:23)? These words may well have been on his lips as he preached his last sermon from the cross. It is widely believed that like Jesus, he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese.
Crucified alongside him were Joan Soan (de Gotó) and Santiago Kisai, also of the Society of Jesus. Along with twenty-three other clergy and laity, all of whom were canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862.
Today, let us ask Saint Paul Miki and his companions to intercede for us, so that we might have a deep desire to sincerely follow in the footsteps of Jesus, not merely honouring him with our lips, but with our hearts as well (cf Mk 7:6).
Have a great day.
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