By
1549, St. Francis Xavier had begun the evangelization of Japan. After
he left to spread the faith elsewhere, a Catholic community flourished.
The community grew, and eventually expanded to include Paul Miki, a
high-born Jesuit priest who became well-known as a preacher. Paul
followed St. Francis’ footsteps and continued the spread of
Christianity, along with missionaries and priests from various countries
and orders.
In
1597, Hideyoshi, a powerful Japanese official, listened to the gossip
and lies of a Spanish merchant. The merchant said that Paul and the
missionaries were traitors of Japan, and were spies for Spain and
Portugal. Hideyoshi cut off the left ears of twenty-six Catholics,
including Paul Miki, smeared their cheeks with blood as a warning to
others and paraded them through towns before executing them. Priests,
brothers, laymen, catechists, doctors, servants, old men and innocent
children were bound to crosses and raised into the air, a lance trust
into their sides, killing them. Hideyoshi crucified the martyrs on a
hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, above Nagasaki. They were
canonized in 1862.
In
1597, Hideyoshi, a powerful Japanese official, listened to the gossip
and lies of a Spanish merchant. The merchant said that Paul and the
missionaries were traitors of Japan, and were spies for Spain and
Portugal. Hideyoshi cut off the left ears of twenty-six Catholics,
including Paul Miki, smeared their cheeks with blood as a warning to
others and paraded them through towns before executing them. Priests,
brothers, laymen, catechists, doctors, servants, old men and innocent
children were bound to crosses and raised into the air, a lance trust
into their sides, killing them. Hideyoshi crucified the martyrs on a
hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, above Nagasaki. They were
canonized in 1862.
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