On the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1549, Saint Francis Xavier and two other Jesuits arrived at the harbour of Kagoshima, becoming the first missionaries to enter Japan. After about 65 years, the Catholic faith was flourishing in Japan, with more than 300,000 converts. Of the people of Japan, Saint Francis Xavier said, “These are the best people so far discovered, and it seems to me that among unbelievers no people can be found to excel them.” The Jesuits were successful in their missionary activity within the highly civilized Japanese culture.

In 1593, Spanish Franciscans began to arrive; they took a more confrontational approach to conversion than the Jesuits did. Worried over the increase Christian population, the ruler Hideyoshi began to enforce his decade-old edict outlawing Christianity by arresting twenty-six Catholics.

Paul was born amidst this situation, into an affluent Japanese family and became a Catholic when his whole family converted. At the age of twenty, he attended a new Jesuit seminary in Japan and became a brother two years later. He spent thirteen years as a Jesuit, during which time he was known as a gifted preacher who helped convert many of his countrymen.

Eventually, Paul and his companions were arrested, tortured, had one of their ears severed, and were paraded 600 miles through many towns for 30 straight days. When they arrived in Nagasaki, the centre of Christianity in Japan at that time, the soon-to-be martyrs were permitted to go to Confession one last time. Then, they were all chained to their crosses, secured with an iron collar. During it all, Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez kept encouraging the others. Brother Martin continually repeated, “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.” Brother Francis and Brother Gonsalvo prayed aloud in thanksgiving. And Brother Paul Miki preached his final sermon, professing Jesus as the only way to salvation, forgiving his persecutors, and praying that they would turn to Christ and receive baptism. Brother Paul continued to encourage the others, and as they all awaited death, they were filled with joy and continually cried out, “Jesus, Mary!”

Then, the martyrs were killed one by one by the soldiers with one thrust of the spear and one blow.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Alfonso Maria Fusco
2. Saint Anthony Dainan
3. Saint Dorothy
4. Saint Francis Nagasaki
5. Saint James Kisai