Martyrs of Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan refers to a group of Christians who were executed by crucifixion in 1597 at Nagasaki.
| Martyrs of Japan | |
|---|---|
 Martyrs of Japan |
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| Martyrs | |
| Born | n/a |
| Died | 1597 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism, Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Major shrine | Nagasaki |
| Feast | February 6 |
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On August 15th, 1549, Francisco Xavier (a Catholic Saint), Cosme de Torres (a Jesuit priest), and Father John Fernandez arrived in Kagoshima from Spain with hopes to bring Catholicism to Japan. On September 29th, Xavier visited Shimazu Takahisa, the daimyo of Kagoshima, asking for permission to build the first Catholic mission in Japan. The daimyo agreed in hopes of producing a trade relationship with Europe.
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[edit] Christianity in Japan
The shogunate and imperial government at first supported the Catholic mission and the missionaries, thinking that they would reduce the power of the Buddhist monks, and help trade with Spain and Portugal; however, the shogunate was also wary of colonialism, seeing that in the Philippines the Spanish had taken power after converting the population (and other colonial powers had done the same elsewhere). The government increasingly saw Catholicism as a threat, and started persecuting Christians; eventually, the Catholic religion was banned and those who refused to abandon their faith were killed.
In 1597, twenty-six Christians – six European Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits and seventeen Japanese laymen including three young boys – were executed by crucifixion in Nagasaki. The individuals were raised on crosses and then pierced through with spears. Persecution continued sporadically, breaking out again in 1613 and 1630, during which time Catholicism was officially outlawed. The Church remained without clergy and theological teaching disintegrated until the arrival of Western missionaries in the nineteenth century.
While there were many more martyrs, the first martyrs came to be especially revered, the most celebrated of which was Paul Miki. The Martyrs of Japan were canonized by the Catholic Church in 1862 and are listed on the calendar as 'Paul Miki and his Companions', commemorated on February 6.
[edit] Recognitions by other churches
Nippon Sei Ko Kai, a member of the Anglican Communion, added the martyrs to their calendar in 1959 to commemorate all the martyrs of Japan. The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America added the commemoration to their calendars during the revision of their respective prayer books in late 1970’s. The Anglican Communion and the ELCA commemorate the martyrs of Japan on February 5 and the Roman Catholic Church commemorates them on February 6.
Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs in Civitavecchia, Italy. This catholic church is dedicated to the Nagaski 1597 event of the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki. It is decorated with the artwork of Japanese artist Luke Hasegawa.
[edit] List of the Martyrs
- Antony Dainan
- Bonaventure of Miyako
- Cosmas Takeya
- Francisco Blanco
- Francisco of Nagasaki
- Francisco of Saint Michael
- Gabriel de Duisco
- Gaius Francis
- Gundisalvus Garcia
- James Kisai
- Joachim Saccachibara
- Juan Kisaka
- Juan Soan de Goto
- Leo Karasumaru
- Louis Ibaraki
- Martin of the Ascension
- Matthias of Miyako
- Michael Kozaki
- Paulo Ibaraki
- Paul Miki
- Paulo Suzuki
- Pedro Bautista
- Pedro Sukejiroo
- Philip of Jesus
- Thomas Kozaki
- Thomas Xico
[edit] Other Martyrs of Japan
- Lorenzo Ruiz - killed 1637, beatified 1981, canonized 1987[1]
- Anthony González
- Dominic Ibañez de Eriquicia
- Francis Shoyemon
- James Gorobiyoye
- Jordan Ansalone
- Lazarus of Kyoto
- Luke Alonso
- Marina of Omura
- Mary-Magdalen of Nagasaki - killed 1634, canonized
- Matthew Kohiyoye
- Michael de Aozaraza
- Michael Kurobioye
- Thomas Jihyoe of Saint Augustine
- Thomas Rokuzayemon
- Thomas Tsugi - killed 1627, beatified 1867
- Vincent Shiwozuka
- William Courtet
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- 26 Martyrs Museum in Nagasaki City, Japan
- Prohibition of Christian religion by Hideyoshi and 26 martyrs - Daughters of St. Paul convent; Tokyo, Japan
- The Martyrs of Japan
- Japanese Martyrs
- Canonization of Martyrs of Japan (Vatican)
- Life of Thomas Jihyoe (Augustinians of the Midwest)
- Augustinian Martyrs of Japan
