Jmj

Today, February 6, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Paul Miki and 25 companions ["Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki"] (mostly European and Asian, missionaries and converts, martyred side by side [mostly crucified and stabbed by spears] in 1597)
(I will add two messages about these men -- some of my favorite saints -- below)

St. Amand of Maastricht (French, hermit, Benedictine abbot, evangelized northern Europe, bishop, died in Belgium c. 679)
St. Amand of Moissac (French, Benedictine abbot, bishop, d. 644)
St. Amandus of Nantes (French, Benedictine abbot, 7th century)
St. Andrew of Elnon (Belgian, Benedictine abbot, c. 690)
Bl. Angelus of Furci (Italian, Augustinian provincial, teacher of theology, d. 1372)
St. Antholian of Auvergne (French, martyred c. 265)
Bl. Diego de Azevedo (Spanish, Cistercian priest, bishop, d. 1207)
St. Dorothy of Caesarea (Cappadocian [Armenian], virgin, tortured and martyred by beheading in 311)
Bl. Francesca of Gubbio (Italian, Franciscan tertiary, d. 1360)
St. Gerald of Ostia (Italian, Benedictine prior, bishop, papal legate, d. 1077)
St. Guarinus of Palestrina (Italian, Augustinian canon, bishop, cardinal, d. 1159)
St. Hildegund of Meer (German, countess, mother of three, widow, Norbertine prioress, d. 1183)
Sts. Jacut and Guethenoc (British, brothers [sons of two saints], 5th century)
Sts. Mel and Melchu (British, nephews of St. Patrick, bishops, martyred c. 490)
St. Mun of Lough Ree (British, nephew of St. Patrick, bishop, hermit, 5th century)
St. Relindis of Eyck (French, Benedictine abbess in Belgium, c. 750)
Sts. Saturninus, Theophilus, and Revocata (early martyrs)
Sts. Silvanus, Luke, and Mucius (Phoenician [Lebanese] ... bishop, deacon, and lector ... martyred in 312)
St. Theophilus of Caesarea (Cappadocian [Armenian], lawyer, martyred by beheading c. 300)
St. Vedast of Arras (French, missionary, bishop, d. 539)

If you have anything to share about these holy people, please reply now -- biographical episodes, prayers through their intercession, the fact that one is your patron saint -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. Information is sometimes available on the Internet.

All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John


-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 06, 2002

Answers

[Here is an excerpt from a moving contemporary account of the martyrdom of St. Paul Miki and his crucified companions -- as found in the Church's "Office of Readings" in the Liturgy of Hours for today:]

"The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims, whose steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. ... Brother Martin gave thanks to God's goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: 'Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.' Brother Francis Blanco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.

"Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his 'congregation' he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his 'sermon' with these words: 'As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.'

"Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis' most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he [a 12-year-old boy] would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him. Anthony [an altar boy], hanging at Louis' side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names - 'Jesus, Mary!' He began to sing a psalm: 'Praise the Lord, you children!' (He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism.)

"Others kept repeating 'Jesus, Mary!' Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die. Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, 'Jesus, Mary!' And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time."

-- (_@_._), February 06, 2002.

Though beatified in 1627 and canonized in 1862, the Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki, also called, the "First Martyrs of the Far East" have been commemorated on the Church's universal calendar only since 1970. They are:

--- St. Paul Miki (Japanese [J], Jesuit priest [age 33 at death])
--- St. Peter Baptist (Spanish [S], Franciscan missionary priest, formerly in Mexico and Philippines, miracle worker)
--- St. Anthony Deynan (J, altar boy, Franciscan tertiary [F3])
--- St. Cosmas Takeya (J, F3, interpreter)
--- St. Diego Kisai (J, layman [age 64], Jesuit temporal coadjutor, catechist)
--- St. Felipe de Jesus de las Casas (Mexican, Franciscan friar, first to die [accidentally strangled on the cross])
--- St. Francis Blanco (S, Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Mexico and Philippines)
--- St. Francis of Miyako (J, F3, physician, catechist --- St. Francis of Saint Michael (S, Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Philippines)
--- St. Gabriel de Duisco (J, F3, age 19)
--- St. Gaius Francis (J, F3, soldier)
--- St. Gonsalo Garcia (Portuguese from India, catechist, interpreter, Franciscan brother, formerly in Philippines)
--- St. Joachim Sakakibara (J, F3, cook, catechist)
--- St. John Soan de Goto (J, adolescent, Jesuit temporal coadjutor, catechist)
--- St. John Kisaka (J, F3, silk weaver)
--- St. Leo Karasumaru (Korean [K], pagan priest converted by Jesuits, F3, chief catechist)
--- St. Louis Ibaraki (J/K?, altar server [age 12], nephew of Paul Ibaraki and Leo Karasumaru)
--- St. Martin of the Ascension Loynaz de Aguirre (S, Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Mexico and Philippines)
--- St. Matthias of Miyako (J, F3)
--- St. Michael Kozaki (J, hospital nurse)
--- St. Paul Ibaraki (K, F3, interpreter, catechist, brother of Leo Karsumaru)
--- St. Paul Suzuki (J, F3, catechist)
--- St. Peter Sukejiro (J, F3, catechist, servant, sacristan)
--- St. Thomas Kozaki (J, altar server [age 15], son of Michael Kozaki)
--- St. Thomas Xico (J, F3, catechist, interpreter)
--- St. Ventura (J, layman, revert from Buddhist priesthood)

-- (_@_._), February 06, 2002.

Jmj

On February 6, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints and blesseds whose souls are now in heaven:

Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki of 1597 [also called "St. Paul Miki and companions"] (mostly European and Asian, missionaries and converts, martyred side by side [mostly crucified and stabbed by spears] in 1597)
[Though beatified in 1627 and canonized in 1862, the Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki, also called, the "First Martyrs of the Far East" have been commemorated on the Church's universal calendar only since 1970. They are:]
----- St. Paul Miki of Tsunokuni (Japanese [J], Jesuit priest [died at about age 33])
----- St. Anthony Deynan of Nagasaki (J, altar boy, Franciscan tertiary [F3], died at about age 13)
----- St. Cosmas Takeya of Owari (J, F3, interpreter)
----- St. Diego Kisai of Osaka (J, layman [age 64], Jesuit temporal coadjutor, catechist [died at about age 64])
----- St. Francis Blanco of Monterey [Francisco] (Spanish [S], Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Mexico and Philippines)
----- St. Francis of Miyako (J, F3, physician, catechist [died at about age 49])
----- St. Francis of Saint Michael of La Parilla (S, Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Philippines [died at about age 53])
----- St. Gabriel of Duisco (J, F3, [died at about age 20])
----- St. Gaius Francis Danto (J, F3, soldier)
----- St. Gonzalo Garcia of Bassein [Gonçalo] (Portuguese from India, catechist, interpreter, Franciscan brother, formerly in Philippines [died at about age 41])
----- St. Joachim Sakakibara of Osaka (J, F3, cook, catechist [died at about age 41])
----- St. John Soan of Goto (J, adolescent, Jesuit temporal coadjutor, catechist [died at about age 19])
----- St. John Kisaka of Miyako (J, F3, silk weaver [died at about age 29])
----- St. Leo Karasumaru of Owari (Korean [K], pagan priest converted by Jesuits, F3, chief catechist)
----- St. Louis Ibaraki of Owari (J/K?, altar server, nephew of Paul Ibaraki and Leo Karasumaru [died at about age 12])
----- St. Martin of the Ascension Loynaz de Aguirre of Vergara (S, Franciscan missionary brother, formerly in Mexico and Philippines [died at about age 30])
----- St. Matthias of Miyako (J, F3)
----- St. Michael Kozaki of Ise (J, hospital nurse [died at about age 46])
----- St. Paul Ibaraki of Owari (K, F3, interpreter, catechist, brother of Leo Karasumaru)
----- St. Paul Suzuki of Owari (J, F3, catechist [died at about age 50])
----- St. Peter Baptist Blásquez of Avila [Pedro Bautista] (S, Franciscan missionary priest, formerly in Mexico and Philippines, miracle worker [died at about age 52])
----- St. Peter Sukejiro of Kyoto (J, F3, catechist, servant, sacristan)
----- St. Philip of Jesus de las Casas of Mexico City [Felipe de Jesus] (Mexican, Franciscan friar, first to die [accidentally strangled on the cross])
----- St. Thomas Kozaki of Ise (J, altar server, son of Michael Kozaki [died at about age 15])
----- St. Thomas Shiko (J, F3, catechist, interpreter)
----- St. Ventura of Miyako (J, layman, revert from Buddhist priesthood)

Bl. Alphonse Mary Fusco of Angri [Alfonso Maria] (Italian, priest, founded Congregation of the Baptistine Sisters of the Nazarene, d. 1910 [beatified 2001])
St. Amand of Maastricht (French, hermit, Benedictine abbot, evangelized northern Europe, bishop, died in Belgium c. 679)
St. Amand of Moissac (French, Benedictine abbot, bishop, d. 644)
St. Amandus of Nantes (French, Benedictine abbot, 7th century)
St. Andrew of Elnon (Belgian, Benedictine abbot, c. 690)
Bl. Angelus of Furci [Angelo] (Italian, Augustinian provincial, teacher of theology, d. 1372)
St. Antholian of Auvergne (French, martyred c. 265)
St. Dorothy of Caesarea (Cappadocian [Armenian], virgin, tortured and martyred by beheading in 311)
Bl. Frances of Gubbio [Francesca] (Italian, Franciscan tertiary, d. 1360)
St. Gerald of Ostia [Geraldo] (Italian, Benedictine prior, bishop, papal legate, d. 1077)
St. Guarinus of Palestrina [Guarino] (Italian, Augustinian canon, bishop, cardinal, d. 1159)
St. Hildegund of Meer (German, countess, mother of three, widow, Norbertine prioress, d. 1183)
Sts. Jacut and Guethenoc (British, brothers [sons of two saints], 5th century)
Bl. James de Azevedo of Osma [Diego] (Spanish, Cistercian priest, bishop, d. 1207)
Sts. Mel and Melchu (British, nephews of St. Patrick, bishops, martyred c. 490)
St. Mun of Lough Ree (British, nephew of St. Patrick, bishop, hermit, 5th century)
St. Relindis of Eyck (French, Benedictine abbess in Belgium, c. 750)
Sts. Saturninus, Theophilus, and Revocata (early martyrs)
Sts. Silvanus, Luke, and Mucius, of Emesa (Phoenician [Lebanese] ... bishop, deacon, and lector ... martyred in 312)
St. Theophilus of Caesarea (Cappadocian [Armenian], lawyer, martyred by beheading c. 300)
St. Vedast of Arras (French, missionary, bishop, d. 539)

If you have anything to share about these holy people, please reply now -- biographical episodes, prayers through their intercession, the fact that one is your patron -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints or blesseds and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. Information is sometimes available on the Internet.

All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 06, 2004.

Some non-Catholic congregations celebrate a feast of St. Titus on this day. But Catholics remember St. Titus (along with St. Timothy) on January 26.

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 06, 2004.