Vigils Reading – St Paul Miki & Companions

February 6

THE MARTYRDOM OF ST PAUL MIKI

AND HIS COMPANIONS

By a contemporary writer3

◊◊◊

The crosses were set in place. Fr Pasio and Fr Rodriguez took turns

encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behavior was wonderful to see. The

Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. 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 Branco 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 now standing 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 would soon be in heaven, his

hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed

on him.

Anthony, 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!”… 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.