Catholic Blesseds, Saints, Solemnities & Holy Days

St. Paul Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese family, and was educated by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki.  Being drawn to the religious life and having a deep love for Jesus, he joined the Society of Jesus.  He became a well-known and successful preacher.  He was responsible for gaining large numbers of converts to Catholicism. 

The Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi was fearful of the Jesuit’s influence and intentions.  He began to persecute Catholics to curb the growth and success of the Jesuit’s work.  Paul Miki was jailed along with many others.  He and his fellow Catholics were forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki.   All the while marching, he and the others sang the Te Deum, “Thee, O God, We Praise”. 

On arriving in Nagasaki, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan, Paul Miki was crucified on February 5, 1597.  He preached his last sermon from the Cross, and it is maintained that he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese.  Crucified along with St. Paul Miki were Joan Soan de Goto’ and Santiago Kisai.  They were both from the Society of Jesus.  As well as the three mentioned, twenty-three other Clergy and laity were crucified that day.  Pope Pius IX canonized all of them as saints of the Church in 1862.  St. Paul Miki is the Patron saint of Japan and his Feast Day is celebrated on February 6^th.