Saint Paul Miki and Companions

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions…

On February 5, 1597 Paul Miki, a Japanese Jesuit, and his twenty-five companions were martyred in Nagasaki, Japan. They were the first martyrs of East Asia to be canonized. They were killed simultaneously by being raised on crosses and then stabbed with spears. Their executioners were astounded upon seeing their joy at being associated to the Passion of Christ.

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St. Paul Miki and Companions
Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, killing hundreds of thousands.

A uranium gun-type atomic bomb (Little Boy) was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a plutonium implosion-type bomb (Fat Man) on the city of Nagasaki on August 9.

My Aunt was living in Nagasaki when that bomb dropped.

On August 9, 1945 she was home sick for the day and did not go to school.  Because she was far enough away from the school and by the grace of God that the fall out did not come her way as bad as it did toward others, she was saved.  She was saved to see all of her friends and most of her family vanish on that one day by this huge blast. 

Nearly three hundred years prior to that happing, another disaster was taking place in Nagasaki.  On  February 5, 1597, twenty-six martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple people, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his church.

Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan.

While hanging upon a cross Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: "The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain."

When Aunt Mary was asked about how she felt, having lost her family, friends, all but her life, she said she knew it was what had to happen to end the war and she had no bad feelings against America.  “We wanted America to win the war.  We had to sacrifice so that would happen…”

It is estimated that five to ten thousand Catholics were killed in that blast. The reaction of the Catholics that survived has shocked the world.

Dr. Takashi Nagai survived the blast and could find only the hand of his wife, identified by the melted rosary it clutched. Yet, instead of cursing the darkness, he saw in the death of his Catholic brothers and sisters the sacrifice necessary to end the war.

In one of his speeches he said, “Was not Nagasaki the chosen victim, the lamb without blemish, slain as a whole burnt offering on an altar of sacrifice, atoning for the sins of all the nations during World War II?”

To Dr. Nagai, the blood of the Christians was the seed that sprouted peace.

And Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

“Into your hands Lord I commend my spirit.”

              - Deacon Jim