February 6 2024 - St. Paul Miki and martyred companions - Courageous Preaching

 Yesterday, the liturgical prayers for the memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr spoke of the courage of her martyrdom. The collect for today’s memorial for St. Paul Miki and his companion martyrs also speaks of courage—holding to the faith we profess until death with courage.

In 1596, the emperor of Japan intensified the persecution of Christians in Japan, seeking to wipe out the Christian faith from the land. He called for the wholesale arrest of Christians in the entire south-central region of Japan called the Kansai region. Christians there were rounded up and forced to march 600 miles to Nagasaki. There they underwent some of the most brutal tortures in Church history. Those who did not apostatize were hung upon crosses and then skewered with spears. St. Paul Miki had his chest pierced with a lance while tied to a cross on 5 February 1597

While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki, a 34 year old native Japanese Jesuit, preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The only reason for my being killed”, he said, “is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ… I thank God it is for this reason I die… 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.”

In the Gospel, today, Christ commands us to preach the Gospel and make disciples. St. Paul Miki took serious that missionary mandate. Prior to his arrest his was known for his preaching. Those who were marched to their deaths with him were no doubt people who had converted in response to his preaching. And he continued to preach the Gospel while hanging on the cross.

Nagasaki, the place of those gruesome tortures and martyrdoms, today has the largest Catholic population in Japan. 

We must have the courage to preach the Gospel, in season and out. It is the mandate given to us by Christ himself. To be courageous in preaching means to be fearless in expressing the whole Gospel, not simply those parts of it that are attractive to the worldly. It means not allowing the fear of criticism or rejection to hinder the clear communication of these truths, even when Christian truth contradicts societal norms, cultural values, or individuals who may disagree with or challenge Christian beliefs. Courageous preaching involves the willingness to endure social, professional, even physical suffering, if it would further the mission. 

Courageous preaching involves trusting that God will preserve you throughout those sufferings, and that’s hard for folks who have a superficial relationship with God. To preach the Gospel with Courage, first the Gospel must take root in our souls—for true courage cannot exist without genuine faith and a living relationship with Christ. Unless we have a living relationship with Christ, unless Christ truly lives in us, there will be no real courageous and effective preaching. 

Through the intercession of St. Paul Miki and companions, “may we hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess”, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith, may we receive the true freedom of the Spirit. 

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure. 

The martyrs followed in your footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in vocations, and that more men and women will take up the missionary call.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

February 6 2023 - St. Paul Miki and martyred companions - Make disciples of all nations

 

Christianity didn’t come to Japan until the tail end of the 16th century, particularly through the efforts of the great Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier. Paul Miki was a native Japanese who had entered the Jesuit Order. He studied intensively the teachings of the Buddhists so that he could debate the Buddhist priests in order to convert them. 

By 1587, around 200,000 Japanese had entered the Church. Seeing Christianity as a threat to his sovereignty and to his nation, in that year, the Japanese emperor ordered the banishment of Christianity from Japan and the expulsion of all missionaries.  The edict was not very well enforced, which allowed many missionaries to remain in the country preaching the Gospel, though at the risk of their lives.

In 1596, the emperor increased his persecution of the Church, he began to arrest Christians in the south-central region of Japan called the Kansai region. They were forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki. There they underwent some of the most brutal tortures in Church history. Those who did not apostatize were hung upon crosses and then skewered with spears. 

Paul Miki was among that first group of martyrs which also included 6 Franciscans from Spain, Mexico, and India, 3 other native Japanese Jesuits, and 17 lay Catholics comprised of catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children. 

These Christian missionaries took to heart the Lord’s instruction in the Gospel: “go and make disciples of all nations”. 

Though Christianity was almost entirely wiped out from Japan, today there are about 1-3 million Japanese Christians, a half a million or so of them Catholic. A half a million out of a population of 123 million—less than one half a percent of the population. We have some work to do, no?

But then again, we have our challenges here at home, too. Again, St. Paul Miki studied Buddhism in order to convert Buddhists. The American Church likely needs to get a lot more serious about studying the prevailing philosophies, so that we can meet people are with the truth of the Gospel. What do our neighbors wrongly believe about Catholicism that is keeping them from conversion; what missionary activity in our own land is the Lord calling us to undertake?

May the example and holy intercession of St. Paul Miki and his martyred companions assist us in our task, and the Church in every land, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith, may we receive the true freedom of the Spirit. 

 The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure. 

The martyrs followed in your footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in vocations, and that more men and women will take up the missionary call.

For the sick and suffering among us, for those who care for them, and for all of our beloved dead, especially X, for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

September 28 2022 - St. Lawrence Ruiz - The life offered to God

Saint Lawrence Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr.  He was born in Manila around the year 1600 to a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, who were both Christians.  As a young boy he was educated by Dominican priests and served as an altar boy.  He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship, and he was a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.  He married and was a devoted husband and father of two sons and a daughter. He was a man of faith.

His life took an abrupt turn when he was unjustly accused of murder.  The threat of arrest led Lawrence to flee his home.  He sought asylum with several Dominican priests who were going to Japan to do missionary work.

As God’s mysterious providence would have it, Lorenzo along with the missionaries were arrested shortly after arriving in Japan. Catholics were being persecuted heavily in Japan at that time, and those who professed the Catholic faith, especially missionaries, were being jailed by the Japanese government, subjected to unspeakable tortures in attempt to force them to renounce their faith. Those who refused to apostatize were sentenced to death by the Japanese.  

As he faced his persecutors, St. Lorenzo said, “If I had a thousand lives to offer, I would offer them to God. So, do with me as you please."  He was killed by being hung upside down and exsanguinated. 

The world thinks (many Catholics think) that the purpose of life is escape a fate like St. Lorenzo’s—to do anything we can from being arrested, tortured, and murdered for our faith. But we must offer our lives to God no matter what that means.

The life offered to God might mean a long life, surrounded by grandchildren—helping your family to become strong in the faith. It might mean being the victim of a false accusation, like St. Lorenzo, and then tortured for your faith. It might mean to have the hatred of the worldly powers bent on your demise. But, the martyrs show us that offering our lives to God, whatever that means, will always bring about a greater good. 

The Courage of the Martyrs comes from a passivity, an acceptance, and surrender to the Holy Will of God. And that’s something that every Catholic is called to imitate no matter our state in life or our circumstances. Surrendered to God, the slave becomes free, the poor becomes rich, the weak becomes strong in bearing witness to God, the crucified becomes an instrument of grace. 

May the martyrs help us to seek and surrender to the Holy Will of God with courage and love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That religious indifference and hatred in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution.

For the conversion of Atheists, hardened sinners, lapsed Catholics, and the conversion of all hearts.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law. One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said: "What do you expect to achieve by questioning us? We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors." 

At the point of death, the second brother said: "You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever. It is for his laws that we are dying."

After him the third suffered their cruel sport. He put out his tongue at once when told to do so,

and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words: "It was from Heaven that I received these; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again." Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage, because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

After he had died, they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way. When he was near death, he said, "It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."

Jn 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

Feb 06 2019 - St. Paul Miki and Companions - Martyrs willingly face rejection

In the first five chapters of St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry has gained incredible momentum: he’s preaching in synogogues all over galilee. He has manifested his divine power by casting out demons both in jewish and gentile territory, he’s calmed a stormy sea, he’s healed countless sick, he’s even raised the dead. We hear today how Jesus then goes to his native place where he is rejected. The Greek word translated "offense" is skandalizomai, meaning "to stumble over an obstacle"; it is the word from which we get our English word "scandal." Why were they scandalized? Jesus lived such an ordinary life among the people of His community that they found it incredible that He should be anything special. They rejected him because they were not willing to get beyond their preconceptions about Jesus. So the Lord proclaims: “"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place”

In a sense, it was good for his disciples to witness the Lord’s rejection by his townsfolk. Because, they, like him, would have to face the same fate. They would have to be willing to preach his Gospel, even when it meant being rejected by one’s own family.

The martyrs throughout the centuries, like Paul Miki and his 25 companions, suffered that ultimate rejection for the sake of the kingdom. Paul Miki and his companions were martyred on February 5, 1597 on a hill overlooking Nagasaki, Japan. The group was comprised of 6 Franciscans from Spain, Mexico, and India and 3 native Japanese Jesuits.  Among the 17 lay Japanese Catholics martyred there were native Japanese catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children. After being forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki, they were all hung on wooded crosses with ropes and chains and then put to death by the thrust of a lance by their own native countrymen.

For nearly two hundred years, priests, religious, and Christians missionaries, Catholic and Protestant, were banned from Japan.  And, when missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. Yet, soon they discovered thousands of Christians living around Nagasaki. They had secretly preserved the faith that Paul Miki and his companions died for two hundred years.

Because of the martyrs willingness to suffer rejection, Christianity was preserved. When John Paul II visited Nagasaki in 1981, he said, “In this holy place, people of all walks of life gave proof that love is stronger than death. They embodied the essence of the Christian message, the spirit of the Beatitudes, so that all who look up to them may be inspired to let their lives be shaped by unselfish love of God and love of neighbor.”

May we allow that unselfish love of God and love of neighbor lead us to that willingness to strive and suffer for the spread of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure.

The martyrs followed in Christ’s footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in priestly and religious vocations, and for increased willingness among Christians to answer the missionary call.

For the sick and all who suffer, may their suffering be united to those of Our Savior and know his consolation and peace.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

Homily: Feb 6 2017 - St. Paul Miki and companions - Martyrdom in Japan

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I had recently viewed Martin Scorsese’s new movie, called “Silence” based on the book of the same name, by Catholic Japanese author Shūsaku Endō. In the story, two Jesuit priests travel to 17th century Japan where Christian lay faithful and priests were being arrested and put to some of the most severe tortures in Church history. The story takes place, about 40 years after the martyrdom of today’s saint, St. Paul Miki and his 25 companions.

Christianity had come to Japan at the tail end of the 16th century, particularly through the efforts of the great Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier. Paul Miki was a native Japanese who had entered the Jesuit Order. He studied intensively the teachings of the Buddhists so that he could debate the Buddhist priests in order to convert them.

By 1587, around 200,000 Japanese had entered the Church. Seeing Christianity as a threat to his sovereignty and to his nation, in that year, the Japanese emperor ordered the banishment of Christianity from the land and the expulsion of all missionaries.  The edict was not very well enforced, which allowed many missionaries to remain in the country preaching the Gospel, though at the risk of their lives.

In 1596, the emperor increased his persecution of the Church, he began to arrest Christians in the south-central region of Japan called the Kansai region. They were forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki. There they underwent some of the most brutal tortures in Church history. Those who did not apostatize were hung upon crosses and then skewered with spears.

Paul Miki was among that first group of martyrs which also 6 Franciscans from Spain, Mexico, and India, 3 native Japanese Jesuits, and 17 lay Catholics: catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children.

While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “Having arrived at this moment of my existence, I believe that no one of you thinks I want to hide the truth. That is why I declare to you that there is no other way of salvation than the one followed by Christians. Since this way teaches me to forgive my enemies and all who have offended me, I willingly forgive the king and all those who have desired my death. And I pray that they will obtain the desire of Christian baptism.

Though Christianity was almost entirely wiped out from that land, today there are about 3 million Japanese Christians, a half a million or so of them Catholic.

The martyrs inspire us by their courage, they assist us with their prayers to remain faithful in the moments when we are attempted to abandon the faith. They urge us by their witness to continue the proclamation of the Gospel to all corners of the earth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs freely embraced death in bearing witness for the faith, may we receive the true freedom of the Spirit. We pray to the Lord.

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure.

The martyrs followed in your footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in vocations, and that more men and women will take up the missionary call.