St. Paul Miki, Jesuit Martyr
by VP
Posted on Friday February 06, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Martyrdom of Paul Miki and Companions in Nagasaki
LORD JESUS Christ, Who didst dedicate the first-fruits of the faith among the people of Japan in the blood of Thine holy martyrs Peter Baptist, Paul, and their companions, so that they were conformed to Thy likeness through the death of the cross, grant that we, who this day keep their festival, may be stirred up by their ensample. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. SourceThe Roman Breviary: Reformed by Order of the Holy Oecumenical Council of Trent, 1908
"The martyrs on the cross were silent in prayer, save Paul Miki, who addressed the crowd, saying: "Because of my teaching of the true religion of God I am now to die, but the death I am about to taste shall never make me regret what I did." Then, when he was pierced by a spear, together with his twenty-five brethren, he cried, "Lord, I give over my soul to thee," and died. " Source: The Economic Aspects of the History of the Civilization of Japan 1930
"Six Franciscans, three Jesuits, Fathers Paul Miki, John Soan de Gotto, and James Kasai, as well as ten Japanese Christians, were imprisoned, and Taicosama passed upon them the following sentence of death:
"Whereas, these men, coming here from the Philippines, under the name of ambassadors, have, against our orders, preached the Christian faith, built churches, and abused our bounty, we order that they be executed, together with the Japanese who have embraced their religion. They shall be crucified at Nangasaki; and we again prohibit this faith, wishing that all should be aware of it. Whoever infringes this, our prohibition, shall, together with his family, suffer the penalty of death. "The 20th of the 11th Moon."
When the sentence was about to be executed, on the 5th of February, 1597, Father Paul Miki, being unable to restrain his excessive joy, threw himself into the arms of each of the Franciscans, and thanked them, with an overflowing heart, for the happiness for which he was indebted to them. To die the same death as our Saviour, Jesus, was, for these men, an unhoped-for glory, which filled them with a holy gladness, an ineffable consolation. The holy martyrs welcomed their fate with so much joy, that the Emperor was constrained to acknowledge that he had been mistaken in his calculations." Source: History of the Society of Jesus; 1865
"TAICOSAMA, the Emperor of Japan, suspecting that the Franciscan Fathers, who came to him as ambassadors of Portugal, were preparing the way for Portuguese conquest, ordered them to be put to death. A happy error made three Japanese of the Society of Jesus sharers in their crown. Paul Miki was thirty-three years old, and though not yet a priest, was one of the most successful preachers of the Christian faith. John, a youth of nineteen, and James, an old man of sixty-four, were catechists and novice lay-brothers in the Jesuit house at Meaco. With the other twenty-three martyrs, their left ear was mutilated, and they were placed on carts, as a moving pillory, and paraded through the country. At last they sailed for Nagasaki, where, on a long-backed hill over the city, twenty-six crosses were reared; a dense crowd was gathered all around. On the way up John and James took their vows of religion. John's father was awaiting him, but only to encourage him to die. Then he took his stand beneath his son, and saw the double lance-thrust, which dyed him with the blood of his child. Paul preached from his cross to those beneath him, and encouraged his fellow martyrs with burning words. The venerable old brother James rejected the signs of honour he received from the crowd, saying, 'I am but a sinner.' With the words, 'Jesus and Mary,' he received his death-stroke." Source: Miniatures Lives of the Saints, for Every Day in the Year; Burns and Oates, 1883
Saint Titus, Bishop and Confessor
by VP
Posted on Friday February 06, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Holy Apostle Titus of Crete; Kosovo, XIV century. Patriarch's Furnace. Church of St. Nikolay
"We are to celebrate today, the Feast of a holy Bishop of the Apostolic Age - a Disciple of the Apostle St. Paul. Little is known of his life; but, by addressing to him one of his inspired Epistles, the Apostle of the Gentiles has immortalised his memory. Wheresoever the Faith of Christ has been or shall be preached, Titus' name has been venerated by the Faithful; and as long as the world lasts, the holy Church will read to her children this Epistle, which was written, indeed, to a simple Bishop of the Isle of Crete, but was dictated by the Holy Ghost, and therefore destined to be a part of those Sacred Scriptures, which contain the word of God. Counsels and directions given in this admirable Letter, were the rule of the holy Bishop, for whom St. Paul entertained a very strong affection. St. Titus had the honour of establishing the Christian Religion in that famous Island, which was one of the strong-holds of Paganism. He survived his master, who was put to death by Nero. Like St. John, he sweetly slept in Christ at a very advanced age, respected and loved by the Church he had founded. As we have already observed, his life left but few traces behind it; but these few are sufficient to prove him to have been one of those wonderful men, whom God chose as the directors of his infant Church,
Favoured Disciple of the great Apostle! the holy Church has decreed that one of the days of the ecclesiastical year should be spent in celebrating thy virtues, and presenting thee our prayers. Look down with love upon the Faithful who glorify the Holy Spirit that gave thee thy rich graces. Thou didst discharge thy Pastoral duties with untiring zeal. Every quality enumerated in the Epistle addressed to thee by St. Paul, as required in a Bishop, was possessed by thee; and thou shinest in the crown of Jesus, the Prince of Pastors, as one of the brightest of its gems. Forget not the Church militant, of which thou wast one of the first guides. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since thou wast taken from her. During this long period, she has had sufferings and trials without end; but she has triumphed over every obstacle, and she continues her glorious path, saving souls and offering them to her heavenly Spouse; and this will she persevere doing, until her Jesus comes to stop the course of time, and open the gates of eternity. Meanwhile, O glorious Saint! she counts on the aid of thy prayers, in the great work of the salvation of souls. Ask of Jesus, that he send us Pastors like unto thee. Pray for that Island, which thou didst convert to the true faith, but which is now buried in the darkness of infidelity and schism. Pray, too, for the Greek Church, that it may regain its ancient glory by union with the See of Peter." The Liturgical Year: Christmas, 3d edition. 1904 By Prosper Guéranger
Homilies on the Epistles of St. Paul to Titus Saint John Chrysostom
