Monday, February 6, 2012

Saint Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs

From The Liturgy of the Hours:

"Today is the memorial of St. Paul Miki and his Companions.

St. Paul Miki was born in 1580 in Japan.  He was a Jesuit brother known for his ability to inspire people to authentic conversion.  At the time, many disparate cultures were present in nearby Southeast Asia; vying for spices, resources, influence and territory.  Many of these cultures were traveling northwards into Japan.  In 1587, when approximately 200,000 Christians were identified, Japan issued an edict of persecution to all those faithful to the Bible.

St. Paul and his Companions were a group of Franciscans, Jesuits, and Japanese Christians identified through the edict.  The 26 individuals were arrested, mutilated, and martyred, in 1597, at the hill of Nagasaki.  They are remembered for their courage, dedication, and joy despite the religious persecution they endured."



  1. Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me where the prints, especially the one at the top that looks like a European engraving, came from? I'm doing some research into this topic and would love to know more. Many thanks, in advance.

  2. It's just something I found on the Internet. I have no idea where it came from. Good Luck with your research!