Holy
card depicting Bl. Alphonsus Navarrete, 1870
Bienheureux Alfonso
Navarrete, Ferdinando de Ayala, Leo Tanaka
Martyrs décapités au
Japon (+ 1617)
Missionnaires espagnols
martyrs au Japon béatifiés en 1867: Alfonso Navarrete, dominicain, Ferdinando
de Saint-Joseph de Ayala, augustin, prêtres espagnols et Leo Tanaka, tertiaire
jésuite.
Alphonse Navarette, né à
Valladolid en Espagne, prêtre dominicain, arriva à Nagasaki après avoir exercé
aux Philippines. Il fonda 3 fraternités pour les soins des malades et pour
sauver les enfants qui étaient abandonnés à la mort par leurs parents païens. A
une occasion, il défendit courageusement des femmes catholiques japonaises qui
étaient menacées par un gang dangereux. Il reçut l'inspiration de se rendre à
Omura pour soutenir les catholiques qui y étaient persécutés. Ils accoururent
vers lui et vers le père augustin Ferdinand Ayala, originaire de Ballesteros en
Espagne qui avait auparavant exercé au Mexique. Les deux prêtres furent
rapidement arrêtés par les autorités mais les laïcs continuaient à essayer de
leur rendre visite ce qui pressa les autorités de les exécuter. A cette
exécution, Leo Tanaca, un catéchiste laïc affilié aux jésuites fut aussi
décapité pour sa foi.
"le P. Alphonse
Navarret, Dominicain, et le P. Ferdinand de saint Joseph, Augustin, ne pouvant plus
retenir l'ardeur qu'ils se sentaient pour le martyre, se montrèrent en public,
assemblèrent à Nagasaki une assez grande multitude de Chrétiens, à qui ils
inspirèrent la même ferveur, et parcoururent, en prêchant, une bonne partie du
pays d'Omura. Ils firent plus, car comme on les eut avertis que le Prince avait
envoyé des soldats pour les prendre, ils se séparèrent de la troupe qui les
suivait, et s'allèrent présenter aux soldats: on les conduisit la nuit dans une
île où ils eurent la tête coupée."
(Histoire
du christianisme dans l'empire du Japon par le R.P. de Charlevoix -
page 326)
À Omura au Japon, en
1617, les bienheureux martyrs Alphonse Navarrete, dominicain, Ferdinand de
Saint-Joseph de Ayala, ermite de Saint-Augustin, tous deux prêtres, et Léon
Tanaka, religieux jésuite, qui, en vertu d’un édit du chef suprême Tokugawa,
furent décapités ensemble en haine de la foi chrétienne.
Martyrologe romain
BBx Alonso Navarrete,
prêtre o.p.
Ferdinando Ayala,
prêtre augustin
Leo Tanaka,
religieux jésuite
Martyrs à Omura, Japon (†
1617)
Alonso Navarrete dans la
Vieille Castille (Espagne) en 1571. Il entra au couvent dominicain de
Valladolid.
En 1598 il partit comme missionnaire à Manille (Philippines), où il se consacra à l’apostolat avec tant d’enthousiasme et de zèle qu’il fut frappé d’épuisement et que ses supérieurs le renvoyèrent en Espagne.
En 1611 il obtint de retourner en Orient, au Japon, où il fonda les Fraternités
du Rosaire et du Saint Nom de Jésus, et diffusa le livre de frère Louis de
Grenade, ‘Guide du pécheur’, en japonais.
Il fonda trois fraternités pour les soins des malades et pour sauver les enfants qui étaient abandonnés à la mort par leurs parents païens. À une occasion, il défendit courageusement des femmes catholiques japonaises menacées par un gang.
En 1614 l'empereur du Japon commença la persécution, interdisant à ses sujets
d’embrasser la foi catholique et ordonnant à tous les missionnaires de quitter
le pays sous peine de mort. Le Père Alonso, infatigable, encourageait les
chrétiens à persévérer dans la foi, baptisait, confessait, prêchait, célébrait
la messe, réconciliait les apostats.
Il se rendit à Omura pour
soutenir les catholiques qui y étaient persécutés. Ils accoururent vers lui et
vers Ferdinando Ayala, augustin. Les deux prêtres furent rapidement arrêtés par
les autorités mais les laïcs continuaient à essayer de leur rendre visite. Par
édit du commandant suprême Hidetada, ils furent décapités, ainsi que Leo
Tanaka, catéchiste laïc affilié aux jésuites, à Omura le 1er juin 1617.
Alonso Navarrete,
Ferdinando Ayala, et Leo Tanaka ont été béatifiés à Rome, avec un groupe de 204
martyrs du Japon, le 07 juillet 1867 par le Bx Pie IX (Giovanni
Maria Mastai Ferretti, 1846-1878).
Source principale :
docteurangelique.forumactif.com/(« Rév. x gpm »).
©Evangelizo.org 2001-2015
Alfonso Navarrete Benito
1571-1617
Il naquit le 21 septembre
1571 à Logroño (Espagne).
Entré dans l’Ordre
dominicain, il appartenait au couvent de Valladolid et fut ordonné prêtre.
En 1598, il fut envoyé à
la mission de Manille (Philippines).
Entre 1602 et 1611, il
sera de retour en Espagne, avant de réembarquer à la tête d’une nouvelle équipe
missionnaire. Cette fois-ci, il alla au Japon, comme vicaire provincial de la
mission dominicaine.
Lors de la persécution,
pour éviter de compromettre les fidèles qui l’aidaient et le cachaient, il alla
se présenter de lui-même comme prêtre catholique, s’exposant ainsi à de sévères
tortures et au martyre.
Il fut décapité sur l’île
de Tokasima, le 1er juin 1617, et fut béatifié en 1867.
SOURCE : http://www.samuelephrem.eu/2015/06/alfonso-navarrete-benito.html
Hernando Ayala Fernández
1575-1617
Hernando (ou Fernando)
naquit en 1575 à Ballesteros de Calatrava (Ciudad Real, Espagne centre) de
Hernando de Ayala et María Fernández, qui étaient de sang noble.
Il entra chez les
Augustins de Montilla (Cordoue) en 1593 et fit la profession l’année suivante, avec
le nom de Hernando de Saint-Joseph.
Doté de grandes capacités
intellectuelles, il fit des études à Alcalá de Henares et même y enseigna.
Pourtant, sa soif des
âmes l’appelait aux missions lointaines. Il partit pour les Philippines en
1603. Le voyage devait se faire en traversant l’Atlantique et le Pacifique. A
l’escale du Mexique, il prêcha, suscitant l’admiration des auditeurs.
Il resta un an à Manille,
puis pénétra au Japon en 1605.
Après avoir appris la
langue en quelques mois seulement, il se mit au travail : les catéchumènes ne
manquaient pas, mais les baptisés aussi avaient besoin d’un prêtre, de ses
conseils, des sacrements. On a rapporté qu’en deux années, le père Hernando
avait baptisé quelque trois mille enfants et adultes.
Il mit aussi à profit sa
connaissance du japonais pour traduire plusieurs livres et en composer
quelques-uns aussi, qui furent précieux pour la dévotion des Chrétiens nippons.
Après cette première
période, en 1607 il repassa aux Philippines pour demander de l’aide. Au retour,
il fut nommé Provincial de l’Ordre augustin.
En 1612, il fonda un
petit couvent à Nagasaki, dont il fut le prieur. Mais c’est à partir de ce
moment-là que la persécution s’accentua et il dut travailler dans la
clandestinité.
En 1617, avec le père
dominicain Alonso Navarrete, il se rendit à Ōmura où les Chrétiens avaient
besoin de prêtres. Mais leur zèle les fit rechercher et arrêter.
Le seul fait d’être
prêtres les condamnait à mort. Ils furent exécutés à Tacaxima (ou Ōmura), décapités,
le 1er juin 1617.
Les restes des deux
Martyrs furent enfermés dans une caisse, qu’on jeta en mer avec une grosse
pierre ; mais quelques années plus tard, les cordes de la pierre s’étant
détachées, la caisse remonta à la surface et des Chrétiens purent recueillir
les corps.
Les pères Ayala et
Navarrete furent béatifiés en 1867.
SOURCE : http://www.samuelephrem.eu/2015/06/hernando-ayala-fernandez.html
Leo Tanaka
1590-1617
Leo naquit vers 1590 à
Ōmi (Japon).
Baptisé, il fut
catéchiste dans le diocèse de Nagasaki.
Il subit le martyre à
Ōmura, le 1er juin 1617.
Il fut béatifié dans un
groupe de deux-cent cinq Martyrs du Japon, en 1867.
SOURCE : http://www.samuelephrem.eu/2015/06/leo-tanaka.html
Blessed Alfonso
Navarrete-Benito
Also
known as
Alfonsus Navarrete
Alphonso Navarrete
Alphonsus de Mena
10
September (as one of the 205
Martyrs of Japan)
6
November (Dominicans as
one of their Martyrs of the Far East)
Profile
Dominican priest. Missionary to
the Philippines in 1578.
In 1610 he
returned to Europe to
recruit missionaries,
and in 1611 returned
to the Orient as missionary and Dominican provincial
vicar in Japan.
His evangelism work
brought many hundreds to Christianity. Martyr.
Born
21
September 1571 in
Logroño, Spain
beheaded on 1
June 1617 in
Koguchi, Omura, Nagasaki, Japan
26
February 1866 by Blessed Pope Pius
IX
7 May 1867 by Blessed Pope Pius
IX
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Life
of the Blessed Charles Spinola, by Joseph Broeckaert, SJ
Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
Short
Lives of the Dominican Saints
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
sites
en français
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
nettsteder
i norsk
strony
w jezyku polskim
Conference of the Polish Episcopate
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Alfonso
Navarrete-Benito“. CatholicSaints.Info. 29 May 2024. Web. 18 April 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alfonso-navarrete-benito/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-alfonso-navarrete-benito/
Martirio
del Beato Fernando Ayala de San José en Japón
Also known as
Ferdinand of Saint Joseph Ayala
Fernando Ayala
Fernando of Saint Joseph
Hernando Ayala
Hernando of Saint Joseph
28
September as one of the Augustinian
Martyrs of Japan
Profile
Augustinian priest in 1603. Missionary to Mexico. Missionary to Japan. Augustinian vicar
provincial in 1605.
Worked with Blessed Alphonsus
Navarette. Martyr.
Born
1575 in
Ballesteros de Calatrava, Ciudad Real, Spain
beheaded on 1 June 1617 in
Koguchi, Omura, Nagasaki, Japan
26
February 1866 by Pope Blessed Pius
IX (decree of martyrdom)
7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius
IX
Additional Information
Life
of the Blessed Charles Spinola, by Joseph Broeckaert, SJ
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
images
sitios en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA Citation
‘Blessed Ferdinand Ayala‘. CatholicSaints.Info. 6
January 2022. Web. 18 April 2026. <https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ferdinand-ayala/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-ferdinand-ayala/
Also
known as
Leo Tanaca
Leone…
10 September as
one of the 205
Martyrs of Japan
Profile
Layman catechist in
the Archdiocese of Nagasaki, Japan. Martyr.
Born
beheaded on 1 June 1617 on
a rock near Omura, Nagasaki, Japan
26 February 1866 by Pope Blessed Pius
IX (decree of martyrdom)
7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius
IX
Additional
Information
Life
of the Blessed Charles Spinola, by Joseph Broeckaert, SJ
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA
Citation
‘Blessed Leo
Tanaka‘. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 December 2022. Web. 18 April 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-leo-tanaka/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-leo-tanaka/
Blessed Alphonsus
Navarrete, OP, and
Ferdinand of Saint Joseph
Ayala, OSA MM (AC)
Alphonsus was born in Valladolid,
Old Castile, Spain, 1571; Ferdinand was born at Ballesteros, Toledo, Spain, in
1575; both died on the Tacaxima Island in 1617; beatified in 1867.
Dominicans were,
according to legend, the first missionaries to Japan, and 1530 is given as the
date of their martyrdom. However, no conclusive proof exists regarding their
names or number, and Saint Francis Xavier rightly holds the title of apostle to
this island kingdom.
Following in Xavier's
footsteps came other missionaries, and, for about 40 years, they worked with
great results among the people. Then, in the closing years of the century,
persecution flared, and the blood of martyrs cried out with a louder voice than
that of the preachers.
Ferdinand took the
Augustinian habit in Mentilla, and in 1603, was sent to Mexico, and thence to
Japan in 1605 as vicar provincial. He worked at Osaka with great success until
his capture and execution en route to Omura.
The first Dominican to
die in the great persecution was Alphonsus Navarrete. When Alphonsus was very
young, he gave up his inheritance to enter the Dominican Order in Valladolid
and, after he had completed his studies, was sent to the Philippine missions.
The great persecution had just begun in Japan. The year before Alphonsus left
Spain, a group of 26 Christians, including many Franciscans and three Japanese
Jesuits, were crucified in Nagasaki.
Despite the dangers, the
Dominicans, who had been excluded from Japan for several years, yearned to go
into the perilous mission field. Alphonsus in particular, after a trip to
Europe to recruit missionaries in 1610, begged to be allowed to go to Japan. In
the following year his offer was accepted and he was sent as superior of the
missionary band. During the short interval of peace, they began their work,
and, during six years of growing danger, they instructed the people and
prepared them for the dreadful days to come.
The missionary career of
Alphonsus was brief, and it was always overshadowed by the threat of death that
beset the Christians in that unhappy country. However, in the few years of his
apostolate, his accomplishment was immeasurable. Like his Divine Master, he
went about teaching and baptizing the people. He is called the "Vincent de
Paul of Japan," because it was he who first began the tremendous task of
caring for the abandoned babies there. He anticipated the work of the Holy
Childhood Society by gathering up the homeless waifs and providing for their
support from money he begged of wealthy Spaniards.
The warning bell of the
great persecution was sounded with the martyrdom in Omura of two priests, a
Franciscan and a Jesuit. Alphonus Navarrete and his Augustinian companion
Ferdinand went to Omura with the intention of rescuing the relics of the
martyrs and consoling the Christians. They were captured on the way, and with a
young native catechist, were beheaded. Their bodies were thrown into the sea.
Five years later, on the
hill of the holy martyrs of Nagasaki, more than 50 Christians sealed their
faith with their blood. Some of the martyrs were beheaded, some were burned at
the stake. In the group were nine Jesuits, including the famous Father Charles
Spinola, nine Franciscans, and nine Dominicans, among whom were the Blesseds Alphonsus
de Mena, Angelo Orsucci, and Hyacinth Orphanel. Louis Bertrand, a nephew of the
saint of that same name, perished in the same persecution.
Thousands of Japanese
Christians, from tiny children to old grandparents, died amid terrible torments
in the profession of their faith. The anger of the persecutors was turned
against all priests, brothers, and catechists, tertiaries, and Rosarians, and
they made fearful attempts to stamp out all traces of the hated religion in the
country. Pope Pius IX, in 1867, solemnly beatified 205 of the martyrs, among
whom were 59 Dominicans of the first and third orders and 58 members of the
Rosary Confraternity. Although all did not die at the same time nor place, they
are listed under the name of Alphonsus Navarrete, who was the first to die
(Benedictines, Dorcy).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0601.shtml
Saints and
Saintly Dominicans – 1 June
Blessed Alphonsus
Navarette and His Companions, Martyrs, O.P.
Blessed Alphonsus
distinguished himself in Japan by such holy audacity in face of the pagans that
some writers think that he went beyond the bounds of the prudence recommended
in the Gospel. But in all this he was guided by the Holy Spirit. He reproached
the king severely for his cruelty and apostasy, and seeing the Crosses and holy
images being burnt by the persecutors, he dragged out of the fire as many
things as he could seize hold of. At that time numbers of Christians were
wavering in their faith, and to revive their courage by an act of boldness, he
suddenly appeared in public, clothed in his religious habit. This action of
course meant certain death, but what matter, so long as the faithful took fresh
courage? To this strength of character was united deep tenderness. He loved to
collect the foundling children and hand them over to the care of the faithful,
and in this he was the precursor of the work of the “Sainte Enfance.” There
perished in this same persecution more than one hundred and ten martyrs
belonging to the Order of Saint Dominic, priests, lay brothers, tertiaries and
members of the Rosary Confraternity. Among them were some members of he royal
family, soldiers, and pious women with their children, some only three or four
years of age (1617).
After the acts of the early Christian martyrs,
there is nothing more beautiful than the story of these Japanese martyrs of
the seventeenth
century.
Prayer
“My Jesus, Thou hast
conquered death by death, in becoming obedient even unto death” (Saint
Catherine of Sienna).
Practice
Kiss your crucifix in
reparation for outrages committed against Jesus on the Cross.
– taken from the
book Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-and-saintly-dominicans-1-june/
Blessed Alphonsus
Navarette & Companions, MM.O.P.
Memorial Day: June 1st
Profile
Dominicans were the first
missionaries to Japan, and 1530 is given as the date of their martyrdom.
However, no conclusive proof exists regarding their names or number, and Saint
Francis Xavier rightly holds the title of apostle to this island kingdom.
Following in Xavier's
footsteps came other missionaries, and, for about 40 years, they worked with
great results among the people. Then, in the closing years of the century,
persecution flared, and the blood of martyrs cried out with a louder voice than
that of the preachers.
Ferdinand took the
Augustinian habit in Mentilla, and in 1603, was sent to Mexico, and thence to
Japan in 1605 as vicar provincial. He worked at Osaka with great success until
his capture and execution en route to Omura.
The first Dominican to
die in the great persecution was Alphonsus Navarrete. When Alphonsus was very
young, he gave up his inheritance to enter the Dominican Order in Valladolid
and, after he had completed his studies, was sent to the Philippine missions.
The great persecution had just begun in Japan. The year before Alphonsus left
Spain, a group of 26 Christians, including many Franciscans and three Japanese
Jesuits, were crucified in Nagasaki.
Despite the dangers, the
Dominicans, who had been excluded from Japan for several years, yearned to go
into the perilous mission field. Alphonsus in particular, after a trip to
Europe to recruit missionaries in 1610, begged to be allowed to go to Japan. In
the following year his offer was accepted and he was sent as superior of the
missionary band. During the short interval of peace, they began their work,
and, during six years of growing danger, they instructed the people and
prepared them for the dreadful days to come.
The missionary career of
Alphonsus was brief, and it was always overshadowed by the threat of death that
beset the Christians in that unhappy country. However, in the few years of his
apostolate, his accomplishment was immeasurable. Like his Divine Master, he
went about teaching and baptizing the people. He is called the "Vincent de
Paul of Japan," because it was he who first began the tremendous task of
caring for the abandoned babies there. He anticipated the work of the Holy
Childhood Society by gathering up the homeless waifs and providing for their
support from money he begged of wealthy Spaniards.
The warning bell of the
great persecution was sounded with the martyrdom in Omura of two priests, a
Franciscan and a Jesuit. Alphonus Navarrete and his Augustinian companion
Ferdinand went to Omura with the intention of rescuing the relics of the
martyrs and consoling the Christians. They were captured on the way, and with a
young native catechist, were beheaded. Their bodies were thrown into the sea.
Five years later, on the
hill of the holy martyrs of Nagasaki, more than 50 Christians sealed their
faith with their blood. Some of the martyrs were beheaded, some were burned at
the stake. In the group were nine Jesuits, including the famous Father Charles
Spinola, nine Franciscans, and nine Dominicans, among whom were the Blesseds
Alphonsus de Mena, Angelo Orsucci, and Hyacinth Orphanel. Louis Bertrand, a
nephew of the saint of that same name, perished in the same persecution.
Thousands of Japanese
Christians, from tiny children to old grandparents, died amid terrible torments
in the profession of their faith. The anger of the persecutors was turned
against all priests, brothers, and catechists, tertiaries, and Rosarians, and
they made fearful attempts to stamp out all traces of the hated religion in the
country. Pope Pius IX, in 1867, solemnly beatified 205 of the martyrs, among
whom were 59 Dominicans of the first and third orders and 58 members of the
Rosary Confraternity. Although all did not die at the same time nor place, they
are listed under the name of Alphonsus Navarrete, who was the first to die
(Benedictines, Dorcy).
Born: Various dates
in the sixteenth century
Died: died the most
terrible torments in Japan in 1617
Beatified: Pius IX
beatified them in 1867
Prayers/Commemorations
First Vespers:
Ant. The souls of the
Saints who followed in the footsteps of Christ rejoice in heaven: and because
for love of Him they poured out their blood, therefore shall they reign forever
with Christ.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Alphonsus with thy companions.
R. That we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Lauds:
Ant. The souls of the
Saints, who for love of God despised the threats of men: the holy Martyrs
triumph with the angels in the kingdom of heaven. O how precious is the death
of the Saints, who constantly assist before the Lord and are not separated one
from another!
V. Wonderful is God
R. In His Saints
Second Vespers:
Ant. God will wipe every
tear from the eyes of the Saints: and mourning there will be no more, neither
weeping nor any sorrow because the former things have passed away.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Alphonsus with thy companions.
R. That we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Prayer
Let us Pray: O God,
who dost rejoice us with the triumph of Blessed Alphonsus and his companions,
grant us, we beseech Thee, by their merits and intercession, like constancy in
faith and efficacy in action. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pascal Time
First Vespers:
Ant. Come, O
daughters of Jerusalem, and behold a Martyr with a crown wherewith the Lord
crowned him on the day of solemnity and rejoicing, alleluia, alleluia
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Alphonsus with thy companions, alleluia
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ, alleluia.
Lauds:
Ant. Perpetual light will
shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord, alleluia, and an eternity of ages, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia
V. The just man shall
blossom like the lily, alleluia.
R. And shall flourish
forever before the Lord, alleluia
Second Vespers:
Ant. In the city of the
Lord the music of the Saints incessantly resounds: there the angels and
archangels sing a canticle before the throne of God, alleluia.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Alphonsus with thy companions, alleluia
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ. alleluia
Prayer
Let us Pray: O God,
who dost rejoice us with the triumph of Blessed Alphonsus and his companions,
grant us, we beseech Thee, by their merits and intercession, like constancy in
faith and efficacy in action. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SOURCE :
http://www.willingshepherds.org/Dominican%20Saints%20May.html#Alphonsus
Companions
Saturday, September 10,
2016
September
10: Blessed Alphonsus Navarrete, O.P., and Companions, Mm., III Class
Today, in the 1962
Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Alfonso Navarrete
and Companions. The feast is III Class, so the ordinary office is prayed according to the rubrics.
A commemoration is made of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor.
The lesson at Matins describes the heroic virtue of these martyrs of
Japan. The Dominicans made up a large contingent of those who were
killed. Also represented were the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Augustinians.
From “Short Lives of the
Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd.,
1901):
On July 7th, A.D. 1867,
just after the celebration of the eighteenth centenary of the martyrdom of
Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Pius IX solemnly beatified two hundred and five
martyrs who had suffered for the faith in Japan at various dates during the
persecution which raged in that country between A.D. 1614 and A.D. 1643.
Fifty-nine of these blessed martyrs belonged to the Order of Saint Dominic; of
these, some were European missionaries, for the most part Spaniards from the
Philippine Islands, others native Friars, and others again Tertiaries;
fifty-eight more were members of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary.
There were also Jesuits, Franciscans, and Augustinians, and numbers of native
converts.
The first Dominican who
laid down his life for the faith in this persecution was the Blessed Father
Alfonso Navarrete, who for his heroic deeds of charity has been termed the
Saint Vincent de Paul of Japan. He was captured by the pagans when on his
way to succor the afflicted Christians of Omura, an act which was equivalent to
offering himself for martyrdom. After dragging him from one desert island
to another, in order to find some spot where his execution might take place
unknown to the Christians, the soldiers at length struck of his head as he
knelt in prayer, holding his rosary and a blessed candle in one hand, and a
wooden cross in the other. His martyrdom took place on June 1st, A.D.
1617.
During the five years which ensued, numbers of missionaries and of native Christians fell into the hands of the persecutors, and were at length all imprisoned together at Omura. There were nine Dominicans, nine Franciscans, nine Jesuits, amongst whom was the famous Father Charles Spinola, and a few seculars. During their long and painful captivity, they kept up all the exercises of community life, rising at midnight to recite their Office, and celebrating as many Masses as they could at daybreak. They also imposed on themselves many fasts and other austerities, in addition to the sufferings which they had to undergo in their wretched prison. Yet so full of joy were they at the thought of suffering for the name of Christ, that Father Alfonso de Mena of the Order of Saint Dominic used to date his letters, “From this prison of Omura, the paradise of my delights.” On September 9th, A.D. 1622, four-and-twenty of the prisoners were removed to Nangasaki, and on the following day were led out to the Holy Hill, consecrated twenty-five years before by the crucifixion of the twenty-six canonized martyrs of Japan. A Christian went before them, bearing the banner of the Confraternity of the Holy Name, whilst they followed joyfully, singing the Litanies and the Te Deum. Father Joseph of Saint Hyacinth addressed the crowds who had gathered together to witness the scene, exhorting them to be faithful to the devotion of the Holy Rosary, which would continue to instruct them when their pastors should be no more. A state was prepared for each of the martyrs, the horrible death of burning having been assigned to several of them. Another procession of native Christians from Nangasaki now joined them, clad in robes of ceremony and preceded by a Dominican Tertiary, clothed in the habit of the Order and carrying a cross. Some of them bore their little children in their arms. The victims numbered upwards of fifty; about half of them were sentenced to be burnt and the rest beheaded.
The former were fastened to their stakes in such a way as to allow of their
escaping, should they choose to save their lives by apostasy. The fire
was applied slowly, so as to prolong their agony; but only two of the heroic
company evinced any sign of being conscious of their sufferings. Both of
them were young Japanese and implored the Governor to grant them a quicker
death; but the boon was denied, and Blessed Paul Nangasci, a Dominican
Tertiary, left his stake to lead them back to the altar of sacrifice. The
Blessed Father Angelo Ferrer Orsucci was seen to rise gradually in a kneeling
posture several feet above the flames, and thus continued for some time in
ecstasy. One by one the Martyrs passed to their reward. The Blessed
Father Hyacinth Orphanel lingered in agony for sixteen hours, expiring at
length with the names of Jesus and Mary on his lips. This martyrdom is
known in history as the Great Martyrdom. All the religious orders in
Japan shared the triumph, but that of Saint Domini was most numerously
represented, offering to God on that day five of its priests, and three
professed Brothers, besides numbers of Tertiaries and members of the
Confraternity of the Rosary.
A few weeks previously
the Blessed Father Lewis Florez had been executed at the instigation of the
Dutch, on August 19th, and two days after the Great Martyrdom, there more
Dominicans suffered death by fire. In the following year, A.D. 1623, on the
25th of August, the Blessed Father Peter Vazquez was burnt in company with four
companions, singing the litanies in the midst of the flames. On July 26th, A.D.
1627, Blessed Father Lewis Bertrand, cousin and namesake of the great Saint
Lewis Bertrand, was burnt with two native Friar Preachers. Next year the
Blessed Father Dominic Castellet shared the same fate, in company with two
Dominican lay-brothers and two Franciscans.
So fiercely did the
persecution rage, and so fiendish were the measures taken for preventing the
landing of fresh missionaries in the country, that at length the Japanese
Christians were left without pastors and continued in that condition for two
hundred years. Nevertheless, when, in our own days, the long closed
Empire became once more accessible to the Europeans, it was found to contain a
considerable number of Christians who had preserved the form of baptism with
the utmost accuracy, were well instructed in the essential doctrines of
religion, and familiar with man of the prayers in common use among the
faithful, and who still cherished with great veneration a picture representing
the Fifteen Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. What stronger testimony can be
alleged to the truth of the Catholic Church which could thus sustain its life,
drawn from a Divine source, under circumstances that must have crushed any
religion of human origin?
Prayer
O God, in the triumph of
blessed Alphonsus and his companions you give us joy. We pray you, to
grant us through their merits and intercession, a like steadfastness in faith
and fruitfulness in work. Through our Lord…
SOURCE : https://breviariumsop.blogspot.com/2016/09/september-10-blessed-alphonsus.html
Book of Saints –
Alphonsus Navarete
Article
ALPHONSUS NAVARETE
(Blessed) M. (June 1) (17th century) A Dominican missionary in Japan, where he
converted many thousands to Christianity. He was beheaded (A.D. 1617), and two
years later his body was discovered to be still incorrupt.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Alphonsus Navarete”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 28
May 2012.
Web. 18 April 2026.
<http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-alphonsus-navarete/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-alphonsus-navarete/
Bl. Ferdinand Ayala
Feastday: June 1
Death: 1617
Martyr of Japan.
Ferdinand was born in Ballesteros, Spain. In 1603, he became an Augustinian and
was sent to the missions of Mexico and
then to Japan. He became the vicar provincial in
1605. With Blessed Aiphonsus Navarette, he was arrested at Omura and beheaded.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3339
St. Leo Tanaka
Feastday: June 1
Death: 1617
Martyr of Japan. He was a
native catechist who was beheaded at Nagasaki, Japan. Leo was canonized in
1867.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4238
Sketch
of the Other Japanese Martyrs Beatified on the 7th of July 1867
Names of the two hundred
and five martyrs beatified 7 July 1867, in chronological order, from the
authentic catalogue annexed to the brief.
22 May 1617
1. Blessed Peter of the
Assumption, Spanish priest of the order of Saint Francis.
2. Blessed John Baptist
Machado de Tavora, Portuguese priest of the Society of Jesus, beheaded.
The former was betrayed
by a false brother who enticed him to his house under the pretext of converting
a repentant apostate. The latter was arrested in the island de Goto while
hearing confessions. They cheerfully and piously spent their last days in the
Omura prison, and were beheaded near it. Father Machado was only thirty-seven.
Born in the island of Terceira, one of the Azores, he entered the Society of
Jesus at an early age, and according to the statement of his superiors led an
angelic life. Bartoli relates several miracles wrought by his intercession.
June 1617
3. Blessed Alphonsus
Navarrete, Spanish Dominican priest.
4. Blessed Ferdinand of
Saint Joseph, Spanish Augustinian priest.
5. Leo Tanaca, Father
Machado’s Catechist; beheaded.
After the martyrdom of
the preceding, Blessed Alphonsus, impelled by divine inspiration, resumed his
religious habit, left Nagasaki, and going to Omura, devoted himself openly to
the ministry with Blessed Ferdinand. They were arrested with Blessed Leo and beheaded
on a desert rock far from spectators. Blessed Alphonsus was fifty-two, and had
been six years in Japan.
1 October 1617
6. Blessed Gaspar
Fisogiro.
7. Blessed Andrew
Gioscinda, hosts of the preceding.
16 August 1618
8. John of Saint Martha,
Spanish Franciscan priest, beheaded. This zealous missionary was confined three
years in prison with criminals, then put to death at Meaco.
19 March 1619
9. Blessed John of Saint
Dominic, Spanish Dominican priest. Died of ill treatment in the Omura prison.
18 November 1619
10. Blessed Leonard
Kimura, Japanese Jesuit lay brother.
11. Blessed Andrew
Tocuan, Japanese.
12. Blessed Cosmas
Taquea, Korean.
13. Blessed John Xoum,
Japanese.
14. Blessed Dominic
Giorgi, Portuguese; burnt alive.
Blessed Leonard was an
excellent coadjutor of the Fathers, acting in cases of necessity as missionary.
Blessed Dominic was Father Charles Spinola’s host. The other three had also
harbored priests. After a long imprisonment at Nagasaki, they were brought
before Gonroc and condemned to the stake. They heard the sentence with holy
joy. “See,” said Blessed Leonard to the spectators, “it is for practising and
preaching the law of God that I am condemned.” “I am happier,” said Blessed
Dominic, “than if they gave me the empire of Japan.” Their martyrdom was a
prelude to the Great Martyrdom. It took place on the same promontory and in
presence of an immense crowd. Blessed Leonard seemed to sport with the fire.
“It hardly burns,” he said, and made signs to have it pushed nearer his body.
They were entirely consumed, except a few bones which were cast into the sea.
VII – 29 November 1619
15. Blessed Bartholomew
Xequi.
16. Blessed Anthony Kimura.
17. Blessed John Ivananga.
18. Blessed Alexis Nacamura.
19. Blessed Leo Nacanisci.
20. Blessed Michael Tascita.
21. Blessed Mathias Cazaca.
22. Blessed Bomanus Matevoca,
23. Blessed Matthias Nacano.
24. Blessed John Montaiana.
25. Blessed Thomas Cotenda.
All Japanese; beheaded.
Twelve Japanese Christians were arrested for residing near missionaries. Their
life and property were offered as the price of apostacy. One fell. The rest
went to the stake on the Sacred Mount, in holiday garb. Blessed Thomas Cotenda,
a relative of the king of Firando, had long led a holy life. Blessed Anthony
Kimura was a brother of Blessed Leonard (No. 10).
7 January 1620
26. Blessed Ambrose
Fernandez, Portuguese Jesuit, lay brother. Companion of Blessed Charles
Spinola, died in prison.
IX – 22 May 1620
27. Blessed Mathias of
Arima, Japanese Catecliist, tortured to death.
This excellent Catechist
was specially attached to the service of Father de Couros, provincial of the
Jesuits. During the persecution he readily went on dangerous errands. “If you
are taken,” they said one day, “will you keep your secrets.” “They may tear off
my flesh and break my bones before they make me reveal anything to injure the
Fathers.” He was true to his word. Caught with a vestment in his hands, he was
put to the torture. The usual applications extorting nothing, he was forced to
swallow large quantities of water, which was then forced out by pressing
violently on his stomach. As they were about to renew this torture, he said,
“Let me breathe, I will inform of one worth ten, a priest from Europe, from
Rome, the Christian Meaco.” “Who? Where?” “He is at Firando, and is called
Thomas Araki,” naming a Japanese priest or ecclesiastic who had really been at
Rome, but had apostatized. “Treat him as you wish to treat good priests,” he
added smiling, “for I will never betray one of them.” On this they attacked him
so furiously that when they wished to drag him to execution he was a corpse.
16 August 1620
28. Blessed Simon Quiota.
29. Blessed Magdalen, his wife.
30. Blessed Thomas Guengoro.
31. Blessed Mary, his wife.
32. Blessed James, their son; crucified.
Blessed Simon was an old
Catechist of the Jesuits in the kingdom of Bungo, a holy old man whose
supernatural power was often attested by the possessed. He was at Cocura,
capital of the kingdom of Bugen, in the northern part of the island of Ximo,
with his friend Blessed Thomas and their families, all fervent Christians when
Gietciundono, the tyrant of that district, gave them the alternative, apostasy
or death. They were all crucified, head down.
10 August 1622
33. Blessed Augustine
Ota, Japanese Jesuit, lay brother; beheaded.
He was taken with Father
Camillus Costanzo and Blessed Gaspar Cotenda, and taken to the prison at Ichi
in Firando, where Blessed Flores and Blessed Zuniga were already. To reward his
untiring zeal he was admitted into the Society of Jesus on the eve of his
martyrdom; and by a remarkable protection, of all the letters addressed by the
provincial to the prisoners at Ichi only that containing the admission of this
brother reached the place.
19 August 1622
34. Blessed Louis Flores,
a Belgian Dominican priest.
35. Blessed Peter de Zuniga, a Mexican Augustinian priest.
36. Blessed Joachim Firaiama, Japanese, burned alive.
They were burned alive on
the Sacred Mount after seeing their companions beheaded; but by an unexpected
indulgence Gonroc permitted the Christians to carry off the bodies. That of
Blessed Flores was first deposited in the house of a widow, where the
Dominicans habitually officiated, then translated to the Dominican Church at
Manilla. That of Blessed Zuniga was sold by the executioners at a high price to
Don Martin Govea, a noble Portuguese, who transported it to Macao, where it was
placed in the Church of the Society of Jesus.
Blessed Peter de Zuniga,
son of Don Alvaro de Zuniga, sixth viceroy of Mexico, and Dofia Teresa,
marchioness of Villamarina, was born in 1585. He had labored in the Philippines
as a zealous missionary for ten years.
Blessed Flores was a
Belgian: his real name being Fraryn. The Fraryn family Avas from Ath, but had
been long at Antwerp, occupying the house on the corner of the Rue aux Laines
and the Rue de la Vigne. At a very early age he went to Spain, and thence to
Mexico, where he entered the order of Saint Dominic. His change of name was
doubtless made to adapt himself to those among whom he lived. Authors differ as
to his age. Father Boero makes him sixty, but he is certainly wrong as to his
birthplace. Father Malpeus of Brussels, in his Palma Fidei Sacri Ordinis
Fratrum Proedicatorum, does not give his age. He says he was successively an
untiring laborer and a master of noviccp, which implies a period of several
years. Father Masetti in his Italian Life of Blessed Flores, citing Aduarte,
Historia de la Provincia del S. Rosario de Filippines, Japan y China, states
that in 1609, Blessed Flores was exercising the ministry in New Segovia in the
Philippines. However, a Register of the Cathedral of Antwerp notes the birth of
Louis, son of John Fraryn- Jacommine Malders, apparently our Saint, on the 9th
of April, 1589 This would make him only thirty-three at the time of his death.
Joachim Firaiama was the
captain whose zeal was rewarded by his being burned alive with the missionaries
whom he was conveying. His noble character never wavered. On his way from the
prison to the stake, he exhorted all present, repeating in Japanese what the
missionaries whispered in Spanish. On reaching the place of execution he
observed that the stake to which he was to be bound was loose; with perfect
calmness and simplicity he set it firm. Even amid the flames he continued to
exhort all present and pray aloud.
37. Blessed Leo
Sucheiemon.
38. Blessed Jolm Foriamon.
39. Blessed Michael Diaz.
40. Blessed Mark Xinsiemon.
41. Blessed Thomas Coranagui.
42. Blessed Anthony Giamanda.
43. Blessed James Densci.
44. Blessed Lawrence Rocuiemon.
45. Blessed Paul Sanciqui.
46. Blessed John Iago.
47. Bartholomew Mofioie.
48. Blessed John Nangata — Japanese; beheaded.
They were compromised
with the last, either as passengers or sailors. Gonroc and the renegade Feizo
endeavored, but in vain, to induce them to apostatize.
10 September 1622
The Great Martyrdom.
49. Blessed Francis
Morales, Spanish Dominican priest burned alive.
He had been, for twenty
years, a missionary of untiring zeal in Japan. He built two churches in the
kingdom of Satzuma, and a church and convent at Fuscimi, in the kingdom of
Figen.
50. Blessed Angelo
Orsucci, an Italian Dominican priest, burned alive.
He was born at Lucca,
entered the order in his youth and lived with the reputation of a saint. He
died at the age of forty-nine, having been four years at prison in Omura with
his friend Father Spinola.
51. Blessed Alplionsus de
Mena.
52. Blessed Joseph of Saint Hyacinth.
53. Blessed Hyacinth Orfanel — Spaniard.
Priests of the order of
Saint Dominic; burned alive. The first resembled his cousin Blessed Navarrete
in his ardor; the second, by his eloquence and devotion to Mary, exercised
great influence; the third, by his charity, was the refuge of the unfortunate.
54. Blessed Alexis.
55. Blessed Thomas.
56. Blessed Dominic.
Japanese. They had been
catechists to the Dominicans, but in the prison were admitted to religious
profession. Alexis was burned; the other two, for want of stakes, were
beheaded. During the trial, the governor, struck by the beauty of Thomas and
his innocent air, which gave a charm to his whole person, advised him to deny
that he knew the missionaries. “How could I say that,” replied the candid
Thomas, “without offending God by a lie?”
57. Blessed Richard of
Saint Anne, a Belgian priest of the order of Saint Francis; burned alive.
This holy martyr was born
in 1585 at Ham-sur-Heure, of a worthy family called Trouvez, but having been in
childhood delivered from the jaws of a wolf by the intercession of Saint Anne,
whom his mother invoked, he took the name of his protectress. In 1604 he was
received into the Recollect convent of Nivelles, and after many wanderings
landed at the Philippines in 1611. He was only a lay brother, but was then from
his virtue and talents applied to his studies and received holy orders. He was
eight years in Japan, always courageous and devoted. One day he was warned to
hide at once if he wished to escape the persecutors. Several Christians were
waiting for him, at the house of Lucy Freitas, to make their confessions, and
he would not abandon them. He remained, was captured, imprisoned for a year,
and shared the triumph of his companions.
58. Blessed Peter de
Avila, Spanish priest. 59. Blessed Vincent of Saint Joseph, lay brothers of the
order of Saint Francis.
After a life spent in
gaining souls to Christ, Blessed Peter underwent two years’ imprisonment and
the stake, Blessed Vincent had been the companion of his missionary labors.
60. Blessed Charles
Spinola, S. J.
61. Blessed Sebastian Kimura, Japanese priest of the Society of Jesus; burned
alive.
This excellent missionary
was a nephew of the first Japanese baptized by Saint Francis Xavier, and cousin
of Blessed Leonard Kimura, Anthony Kimura and Mary Tocuan, the whole family
having been apparently blessed in its head. Sebastian was the most illustrious.
He was the first Japanese priest, having been ordained at Nagasaki by Bishop
Louis Cerqueira in 1601, and, of all the Japanese priests, he was the first to
receive the crown of martyrdom. Born at Firando, of Christian parents, he
entered the service of the Church at twelve, was educated at the seminary of
Bungo, and entered the Society of Jesus at the age of nineteen. After his
novitiate he was sent to instruct neophytes; he completed his studies at Macao,
and on becoming a priest displayed the highest qualities of his nation, without
their defects. In the prison and at the stake he was worthy of Blessed Spinola.
He died at the age of fifty-seven.
62. Blessed Gonsalvo
Fusai.
63. Blessed Anthony Chiuni.
64. Blessed Peter Sampo.
65. Blessed Micliael Xumpo.
66. Blessed John Cioncogu.
67. Blessed John Acafosci.
68. Blessed Louis Cavara.
These are the seven
Japanese admitted by Blessed Spinola to their novitiate and then to their first
vows in the Society of Jesus (see page 169). They were tried Christians, most
of them renouncing great worldly advantages to consecrate themselves to the service
of the Church. The Sampo family held a high rank in the kingdom of Oxu, in the
northern part of the island of Niphon. Thomas Acafosci had been a brilliant
oflBcer before he became a zealous catechist of Father Kimura. Gonsalvo Fusai
had played a conspicuous part at the court of Bigen, as Louis Cavara had at
Arima.
69. Blessed Leo de
Satzuma, Japanese, of the order of Saint Francis.
This catechist of Father
Richard of Saint Anne, on learning that the missionary was arrested, went and
gave himself up, so as to share his fate.
70. Blessed Lucy de
Freitas, Japanese widow; burned alive.
This illustrious widow
was a model of all virtues. She was a Japanese, but married Philip de Freitas,
a Portuguese. Pious from childhood she sanctified her years of widowhood by
rigorous austerity and heroic acts of charity. Her house was open to the
persecuted missionaries. One day learning that the apostate Feizo sought to
seduce a Christian, she ran to the spot and publicly reproached him bitterly
with his conduct. As the wretched man sought to intimidate her by threats, she
seized the sword of a bystander; she handed it to him, saying, “Strike, and do
what you will with me.” When condemned to death for harboring Father Richard
she drew forth the crucifix she wore on her bosom and exclaimed, “I will
cheerfully die for my God.” At the age of eighty she bore the torture of fire
with admirable courage.
71, 72. Blessed Anthony
Sanga and Blessed Magdalen his wife, Japanese.
Of noble birth and highly
educated, Anthony had entered the novitiate of the Jesuits, but was compelled
by ill health to retire. But he devoted himself with his wife to all good
works. He was a good and zealous catechist. Just before his death he wrote a
very touching letter to the Provincial of the Jesuits. Unable to call himself a
son, he calls himself the slave of the Society, to which he owed all that he
was. ” I have united with its labors, as far as I could; and since my
imprisonment I have baptized thirty-two heathens, taught the prayers to a great
many and encouraged my fellow-prisoners. All this I owe to the Society which
instructed and formed me, as it prepared me for the death that now awaits me. .
. – . Only one thing affects me — the recollection of my leaving the Society. I
seem to myself like Adam driven from the earthly Paradise Why can I not in
death become again your brother? but as this is impossible, receive me at least
as your most devoted slave.” His wife was beheaded, as were most of the other
martyrs of this day. Of those whose names are now given little is known, except
of Elizabeth Fernandez and little Ignatius.
73. Blessed Anthony, a
Corean, catechist under the Jesuits.
74. Blessed Mary his wife, a Japanese.
75, 76. Blessed John and Blessed Peter their children, aged twelve and three.
77. Blessed Paul Nangasci, Japanese, burned alive.
78. Blessed Thecla, his wife.
79. Blessed Peter (seven years old), their child.
80. Blessed Paul Tanaca, a Japanese.
81. Blessed Mary his wife.
82. Blessed Elizabeth Fernandez, wife of the martyr Dominic Giorgi.
83. Blessed Ignatius, their child, aged four.
84. Blessed Apollonias, widow, aunt of Blessed Gaspar Cotenda.
85, 86. Blessed Dominic Xamada and Blessed Clara his wife, Japanese.
87. Blessed Mary, wife of Blessed Andrew Tocuan, Japanese.
88. Blessed Agnes, wife of Blessed Cosmas Taquea, Japanese.
89. Blessed Dominic Tacano, son of Blessed Mathias Tacano.
90. Blessed Bartholomew Xichiemon.
91, 92. Blessed Damian Jamichi and his son Blessed Michael (five years old).
93. Blessed Thomas Xiquiro (aged seventy).
94. Blessed Kufus Iscomola.
95. Blessed Mary, wife of Blessed John Xoum.
96, 97. Blessed Clement Vom and his son Blessed Anthony.
98. Blessed Dominica Ongata.
99. Blessed Catharine, a widow
100. Blessed Mary Tanaura—all Japanese.
11 September 1622
101. Blessed Gaspar
Cotenda, catechist under F. Camillus Costanzo, S. J.
102. Blessed Francis, aged twelve, son of Blessed Cosmas Taquea.
103. Blessed Peter, aged seven, son of Blessed Bartholomew Xichiemon.
Blessed Gaspar, of the
family of the kings of Firando, was twenty-one years of age. Pious and well
educated, he was just about to enter the Society of Jesus. Blessed Peter was to
have been put to death with his father, but was overlooked in the confusion.
The next day the judge, out of pity, wished to make the boy say he had run away
“Not at all,” replied the little martyr, “I saw that nobody took any notice of
me, so I went home.” Threats had no avail. “I am ready to die,” said he, ” for
some Fathers of the Society appeared to me and encouraged me to die for Jesus
Christ, and to answer freely as I do.” Then these martyrs were taken to the
sacred mountain, still covered with the bodies and blood of the victims of the
10th. Undismayed, they joyfully mingled their blood with that of their
predecessors. Their bodies were beheaded, then reduced to ashes, and these
scattered to the winds.
12 September 1622
104. Blessed Thomas
Zumarraga, Spanisli priest.
105. Blessed Mancio of Saint Thomas, Japanese.
106. Blessed Dominic, Japanese — all of the order of Saint Dominic.
107. Blessed Apollinaris Franca, Spanish priest.
108. Blessed Francis of Saint Bonaventura, Japanese.
109. Blessed Peter of Saint Clare, Japanese — all of the order of Saint
Francis.
After the great execution
of September 10, Gonroc considered himself as the special minister of the
Emperor to execute prompt and terrible justice on all religious. He accordingly
sent his lieutenant to Omura, to burn at the stake all who still remained in
prison. Their suffering was like that of those burned at the Great Martyrdom,
but more prolonged. The two Spanish Fathers conducted each his two disciples,
and all died worthy of their apostolate. Four others, Paul and Mathias Faiaci,
John Iquenda and Leo Suquiemon, executed at the same time, are not included in
the Brief of Beatification from want of judicial proofs.
15 September 1622
110. Blessed Camillas
Costanzo, priest of Society of Jesus; burned alive.
He was born in Calabria
and first served in Prince Albert’s army, and was at the siege of Ostend. At
the age of twenty he became a Jesuit, retaining all the energy of his first
vocation. He labored usefully in the kingdom of Bugen from 1605 to 1614; he
then returned to Macao, where he wrote a Japanese treatise against the Bonzes.
For the last year he had, as an apostle, traversed all the western part of
Japan, especially the islands depending on the king of Firando.
The inconsiderate zeal of
a Japanese lady led to his arrest. Anxious to convert her husband Soiemon, a
judicial officer in the island of Ikitsuki, she said, “Who knows when we shall
have so favorable an opportunity again—the blessing of hearing a holy
religious? Soiemon astonished, pretended to acquiesce in his wife’s desire, and
soon learned the missionary’s retreat and his harborers. This was all he
sought. Blessed Camillus was arrested on the 24th of April, 1623, in the island
of Ucu. His trial at Firaudo, imprisonment in the island of Ikinoscima. and
finally his martyrdom near Firando, were a repetition of those of Blessed
Spinola. But Father Costanzo displayed, especially amid the flames, an
exultation unexampled even in the annals of this persecution. Before a great
number of Catholics, pagans, and even Dutch and English Protestants, he
resolutely entered the place of execution and marched up to liis stake. Thence,
as from a pulpit, he began to address the spectators. “I am,” he said, ”
Camillus Costanzo, an Italian, of the Society of Jesus. I am going to be burnt
alive for preaching the law of the true God… We are not to fear temporal but
eternal death, . . . There is not means of avoiding that woe except to embrace
the law of Jesus Christ.’ While he thus preached the flames rose and concealed
him from the spectators. A moment after they beheld him motionless, his eyes
raised to heaven, in a sort of extasy. Suddenly he intoned the psalm Laudate
Dominum, pronounced some words of exhortation, and, what seemed really
prodigious, uttered exclamations of joy, and seemed transfigured with a
heavenly radiance finally, with a voice that was heard afar he chanted Sanctus,
sanctus, and repeating for the fifth time this homage of the Seraphim, he bowed
his head and expired. The testimony to these facts is abundant, and they
produced an incalculable impression.
2 October 1622
111. Blessed Louis
Giaciqni, Japanese—burned alive.
112. Blessed Lucy Lis wife.
113. Their sons, Blessed Andrew, aged eight, and Blessed Francis, four years —
beheaded.
Blessed Giaciqui was tlie
one wlio planned tlie escape of Blessed Father Flores. He was put to the
torture to learn the names of his accomplices, but he showed unshaken courage.
His wife and children preferring death to apostasy, were first beheaded before
his eyes.
1 November 1622
115. Blessed Peter Paul
Navarro, Italian, priest.
116, 117. Blessed Denis Fugiscima and Blessed Peter Onizuki, scholastics of the
Society of Jesus.
118. Blessed Clement, a Japanese in the service of Father Navarro.
Blessed Navarro,
countryman and friend of Father Costanzo, had labored successfully in Japan for
thirty-six years, when he obtained the martyr’s crown. He was discovered and
arrested with his three companions at Arima, where Bungodono had succeeded the
apostate Michael. This prince was not then such as he subsequently appeared. He
treated Father Navarro with great humanity, and even desired to save him, but
had to comply with the orders of Xongun and Gonroc. The execution was fixed for
the first of November. On the morning of All Saints, by the personal favor of
the prince, Blessed Navarro was permitted to celebrate Mass and receive the
vows by which Blessed Blessed Peter and Denis became members of the Society of
Jesus, as well as address a last exhortation to the sobbing Christians. This
took place at Scimabara, a city lying on a gulf of that name. The stakes were
erected on a promontory stretching far out into the sea. There, before the eyes
of a vast concourse, the four confessors underwent tiia fiery ordeal with
heroic fortitude.
4 December 1623
119. Blessed Francis
Galvez, a Spanish priest of the order of Saint Francis.
120. Blessed Jerome de Angelis, an Italian priest.
121. Blessed Simon Jempo, a Japanese—both of the Society of Jesus.
On arriving in Japan
Father de Angelis, so long the companion of Father Spinola, was sent north and
penetrated to kingdoms hitherto unapproached. He was in Jedo, the new capital
of Japan, when Zongun II. succeeded his father and renewed the edicts against
the Christians with many threats and promises. On the information of an
apostate, Father Jerome’s host was arrested. The brave man refused to give any
information, but the missionary, in hopes of saving his host, gave himself up.
His catechist, Blessed Simon Jempo, refusing to abandon his master, followed
his example. Some days later, Blessed Francis Galvez, a Franciscan missionary,
was discovered and added to the two Jesuits. The confessors continued their
labors even in prison, converting and baptizing forty pagans.
Many Christians were
arrested at the same time, and were held subject to Xongun’s decision on his
return from his coronation at Meaco. “Let them be all burned alive,” was the
summary sentence of the prince; ard fifty Christians underwent this torture in a
plain without Jedo. The two religious and John Faramondb, a gentleman, were
reserved to the last; they used the delay to address, in words of salvation,
the spectators who crowded from the capital, then cheerfully laid down their
lives to confirm their assertions. The tyrant himself took care to establish
the motive of their execution. A placard bore the following, “These men are
punished with death because they are Christians.” However, for want of
juridical statements, only three of the fifty martyrs are beatified. The bodies
were, as usual, carefully guarded, but some Christians succeeded in carrying
oflf the head of Father de Angelis, which was conveyed to Nagasaki and thence
to Macao.
22 February 1621
122. James Carvallio,
Portuguese, priest of the Society of Jesuits, frozen to death.
While the Christians were
thus treated, Masamune, King of Oxu, was at the court of Jedo. Hitherto he had
shown an inclination to the Christian faith, and liad sent an embassy to
Europe; but, led away by the emperor’s example, he ordered the governor of
Scendai, his capital, to bunt down the Christians, and put all to death who
refused to apostatize. Twenty-three suffered, but the necessary information
could be obtained only as to the most illustrious of them, Blessed James Carvalho.
This worthy missionary had spent his best years in Japan; after establishing a
mission at Cochin China, during his exile, he returned to Japan and joined B,
Jerome de Angelis in his laborious northern mission. Tracked by Masamune’s
emissaries, Carvalho, warned of the danger, retired, with sixty Christians, far
from all abodes, in a valley, hidden away in the mountains. They would probably
have eluded pursuit, except for their footprints in the snow, which guided the
persecutors. As soon as the holy missionary saw that he was discovered, he went
forward to meet them, and thus gave a number of Christians time to scatter and
escape.
The prisoners were led to
Scendai, through the snow-blocked roads and the bitter cold. Two old men.
unable to keep up, were killed by the guard. At the capital an entirely new
punishment was devised for the rest. A river flowed at the foot of the
fortress. On its banks a hole, several feet square, was dug, and filled with
water from the river. Here the Father, with eight companions, was exposed,
naked, to the torture of ice-water, amid the railleries and jeering
exhortations of the pagans. After the lapse of three hours, when their limbs
were numbed, they were, by order of the court, taken out. It was supposed that
this first torture would make them more compliant. As the holy confessor’s
replies expressed only desire to sacrifice himself in so good a cause, he was
taken back to the pit, plunged in the water to his knees, then to his neck,
taken out, plunged in again, till he was completely frozen. He lived thus three
hours, and, with his last breath, uttered the holy names of Jesus and Mary.
25 August 1624
123. Blessed Michael
Carvallio, Portuguese, priest of the Society of Jesus.
124. Blessed Peter Vasquez, Spaniard, Dominican priest.
125. Blessed Louis Sotelo, Spaniard, and
126. Blessed Louis Sosanda, Japanese, both priests of the order of Saint
Francis; and
127. Blessed Louis Baba, Japanese Catechist of the same order.
All burned alive. From
his prison in Omura, resembling Spinola’s, Michael Carvallio wrote, “We are all
feeble and infirm in body, but sustained and consoled in spirit, for God grants
his favors in proportion to sufferings. If it please His Sovereign Majesty that
I die in this prison, devoured by vermin and covered by filth, His will be
done,” After enduring this torment for a year and a half, they were taken from
Omura to Scimabara, where they were burned. The executioner, wishing to fix the
rope on one of the stakes, used the body of Blessed Vasquez as a footstool —
mounting on his shoulders — without the martyr’s resenting it. After two hours
Blessed Louis Baba’s bonds were consumed, and that good religious went and
kissed the hands of Blessed Vasquez and Sotelo, and expired at their feet. On
this occasion even the Bonzes paid homage to the courage of the martyrs, and
acknowledged that God alone could raise feeble mortals to that height.
15 November 1624
128. Blessed Caius, a
Corean, Catechist to the Jesuits, burnt alive.
Born in Corea, and still
a pagan, he begged God to save his soul and God showed him an aged man, who in
another land would teach him the way of salvation. Brought to Japan” as a
prisoner of war, he was instructed by the Jesuit missionaries, aided them in
their ministry, and in reward received the martyr’s crown. He was burned alive
at Nagasaki, by Gonroc’s order.
20 June 1626
129. Blessed Francis
Paclieco, Portuguese priest.
130. Blessed Balthasar de Torres, Spanish priest.
131. Blessed John Baptist Zola, ItaHan priest.
132. Blessed Peter Kinscei, Japanese.
133. Blessed Vincent Caum, Korean.
134. Blessed John Chinasco.
135. Blessed Paul Scinsuche.
136. Blessed Michael Tozo.
137. Blessed Gaspar Sadamatzu, Japanese.
All of the Society of
Jesus, burned alive. In 1626 the emperor published new edicts of unheard-of
severity. Every practice of the Christian religion, and even the use of the
European calendar, was punished with death, and, to execute these acts, an army
of spies was organized. The first to fall into the tyrant’s hands was Blessed
Francis Paclieco, provincial of the Jesuits and administrator of the diocese.
For easier communication he had remained at Cocinotzu, a port in the kingdom of
Arima. He was taken, with several others of his order, to Scimabara, and shut
up in a dungeon in the fortress. Blessed Balthasar de Torres, and Michael Tozo,
his catechist, were soon after taken near Nagasaki, and imprisoned at Omura.
The two parties, all Jesuits, were then sent to Nagasaki, and met at the foot
of the sacred mountain, where they saluted and embraced one another with the
most lively joy, amid the applause of the Christians and wonder of the pagans.
It was the Great Martyrdom renewed.
12 July 1626
138. Blessed Mancio.
139. Blessed Mathias Arachi.
140. Blessed Peter Arachi Cobioia.
141. Blessed Susanna, his wife.
142, 143. Blessed John Tanaca, and Blessed Catharine his wife.
144, 145. Blessed John Naisen, and Blessed Monica his wife.
146. Louis, their son, seven years old
All Japanese; burned or
beheaded. After the religious, their hosts were arraigned. Cavaci, the new
governor of Nagasaki, ordered them all to be put to death. Ho first subjected
them to fearful tortures. The ladies were exposed to the insults of the mob.
Susanna was hung by her hair to a tree for eight hours. Monica and Catharine were
forced to swallow and then eject great quantities of Avater: all were thrown
into loathsome dungeons. Mancio died there, but his body was burned with the
rest on the Holy Mountain of Nagasaki. The ladies, with little Louis, were
beheaded. The young martyr was taken to execution in a soldier’s arms. When set
down, not understanding all the preparations, he ran to his mother, who,
absorbed in the thought of her approaching death, pushed him away, exciting his
grief and surprise. His father, perceiving it from his stake said: “Grieve not,
Louis; in a few moments we shall all three be re-united in heaven.” All the
martyrs died in similar sentiments. One of them, Jolm Tanaca, an aged man, did
what was deemed miraculous. Seeing his bonds consumed, he left his stake and
went to each martyr, saluting them, kissing their hands, praising God for their
constancy, passing through the burning coals as if he were incombustible. He
then went back to his stake and died praying.
29 July 1627
147. Blessed Louis
Bertrancl, priest.
148. Blessed Mancio, of the Holy Cross.
149. Blessed Peter of Saint Mary, both Japanese
All of the order of Saint
Dominic; burned alive. Blessed Louis Bortrand, a nephew of Saint Louis
Bertrand, the apostle of South America, was burned at Omura, with two fervent
Catechists of his order. This is about all we know of their martyrdom, the
narratives being less detailed as the times grew more difficult.
16 August 1627
150. Blessed Francis
Curobioje.
151. Blessed Caius Jemon, Japanese, beheaded.
152. Blessed Magdalen Chiota, related to the king of Bungo, burned.
153. Blessed Francis, Japanese, burned.
154. Blessed Francis of Saint Mary, a Spaniard, priest of the order of Saint
Francis.
155. Blessed Bartholomew Laurel, a Mexican.
156. Blessed Anthony, of Saint Francis, a Japanese, his Catechist of the same
order, burned alive.
157. Blessed Gaspar Voz, Japanese, beheaded.
158. Blessed Thomas Yo, Japanese, beheaded.
159. Blessed Francis Enlioie, Japanese, burned.
160. Blessed Luke Chiemon.
161. Blessed Michael Chizaiemon.
162. Blessed Louis Matzuo.
163. Blessed Martin Gomez.
164. Blessed Mary.
All Japanese; beheaded.
7 September 1627
165. Blessed Thomas
Tzugi, Japanese priest, of the Society of Jesus.
166. Blessed Louis Maqui.
167. Blessed John, his son — Japanese; all burned alive.
Blessed Thomas Tzugi,
born on the territory of Omura, was educated in the seminary of Arima, and,
entering the Society, became a very distinguished preacher. In the worst times
of the persecution he assumed all sorts of disguises to sustain the faithful,
and especially that of porter; but one day his courage failed him, and he asked
to withdraw from the Society of Jesus. He had scarcely received his dismission
when he repented, and asked to re-enter the order. Having no complaint to make
of him, the superiors merely subjected him to fresh trials, and God, having
permitted this humiliation, gave him the opportunity to repair his fault by
martyrdom. His hosts shared his triumph.
8 September 1628
168. Blessed Anthony of
Saint Bonaventure, Spanish priest.
169. Blessed Dominic, of Nagasaki, both Franciscans.
170. Blessed Dominic Castellet, Spanish priest.
171. Blessed Thomas, of Saint Hyacinth.
172. Blessed Anthony, of Saint Dominic, Japanese, all Dominicans.
173. Blessed John Tomachi, with his four sons.
174. Blessed Dominic (sixteen years old).
175. Blessed Michael, (thirteen years).
176. Blessed Thomas, (ten years).
177. Blessed Paul, (seven years).
178. Blessed John Imamura.
179. Blessed Paul Aibara.
180. Blessed Romanus.
181. Blessed Leo.
182. Blessed James Faiascida.
183. Blessed Matthew Alvarez.
184. Blessed Michael Jamada.
185. Blessed Lawrence, his son.
186. Blessed Louis Nisaci, with his sons.
187. Blessed Francis (five years).
188. Blessed Dominic, (two years).
189. Blessed Louisa, aged eighty.
All Japanese; twelve
burned, ten beheaded. Religious and harborers of religious, they were martyred
at Nagasaki by order of Bungodono, prince of Omura, who had become a violent
persecutor. The religious, with their chief hosts, were burned. One of them has
left us this noble expression, “Now I see that I am thine, my Jesus!” As usual
the beheading took place first. The heads of Blessed Tomachi’s four sons were
thrown on his fire and consumed with him. Amid their trials these noble
Christians chanted the praises of God.
16 September 1628
190. Blessed Michael
Fimonoia.
191. Blessed Paul Fimonoia.
192. Blessed Dominic Xobioie.
Beheaded at Nagasaki.
25 December 1628
193. Blessed Michael
Nacascima, Japanese Jesuit, applied to “The Mouths of Hell.”
From childhood Blessed
Micliael led an exemplary life. At a later day he took part in all the works of
zeal that the persecution surrounded with greatest peril. After his admission
into the Society of Jesus, he bore, with heroic constancy, all that the tyranny
of his persecutors could invent. He was first bastinadoed at the mercy of his
executioners, then subjected, on different occasions, to the torture of water,
used in the most brutal manner; finally, they had recourse, for the first time,
to a new torture.
Some leagues from Arima,
stands Mount Ungen, with three summits, separated by fissures, from which issue
boiling waters and sulphurous exhalations. These waters corrupt and decompose
the flesh the effluvia they emit is enough to extinguish life. Hence they were
called “Mouths of Hell!”
To use them against the
Christians required some skill. The persecutor had no idea of stifling them
instantly. They were passed through some basins where the water was only
knee-deep; then covered with boiling water and gradually plunged into the
deepest fissures. When they could bear no more they were withdrawn. Thus was B,
Michael Nacascima boiled to pieces, no word escaping his lips except the names
of Jesus and Mary. He knew by experience the efficacy of this invocation, for
in a letter written after his first torture to Father Emanuel de Borges, we
read: “When the pain became too intense, I invoked Our Lady the Blessed Virgin,
and my pain instantly ceased.”
28 September 1630
194. Blessed John
Cocumbuco.
195. Blessed Mancio.
196. Blessed Michael Chinosci.
197. Blessed Lawrence Scixo.
198. Blessed Peter Cufioie.
199. Blessed Thomas.
All of the third order of
Saint Augustine, beheaded. Between 1629 and 1632 there were more than three
hundred martyrs, but positive information could be obtained only as to six. God
knows and crowns all.
3 September 1632
200. Blessed Bartholomew
Guttierez, Mexican priest.
201. Blessed Vincent Carvallio, Portuguese priest.
202. Blessed Francis of Jesus, Spanish priest
All three Augustinians.
203. Blessed Anthony
Iscicla, Japanese priest of the Society of Jesus.
204. Blessed Jerome cle Torres, Japanese priest.
205. Blessed Gabriel of Magdalen, Spanish Franciscan.
From 1629 Tachimaga
Uneme, successor to Cavaci, governor of Nagasaki, and commissary of the Emperor
in all Southern Japan, undertook by every means to extirpate Christianity. He
exhausted the patience of the Christians by prolonged tortures, and attacked
them in every way most repugnant to their instincts. He forced the men to go on
all fours like brutes through filth; he exposed the women stripped to the
insults of the mob, and other atrocities. It must be admitted that the number
of apostates then increased. No succor could reach them, and tyranny developed
an infernal system. After terror came stratagem. Uneme pretended to relax. He
took the air of one who felt that it was all over and the Christians
extirpated. At the same time he watched all suspected spots, and soon captured
several priests on whom he resolved to try every means of seduction, and if he
failed, every species of torment. He was bent especially on obtaining the
apostacy of the Japanese, above all of one like Blessed Anthony Iscida, a
Jesuit and priest as well. But all his arts, all his officers failed to move
the holy religious. Then he had recourse to the “Mouths of Hell,” and employed
them with refinements of cruelty. Each martyr was taken thither separately;
each subjected to the torture of the devouring waters as far as his strength
permitted. The strongest were tortured six times a day; a physician daily
applying remedies till they were able to begin again. This torture lasted a
month, not a martyr quailed. The tyrant was defeated, and the whole city of
Nagasaki proclaimed the heroism of the martyrs of Jesus Christ. Uneme, to
conceal his defeat, had them secretly conveyed to the Sacred Mountain and there
privately burned.
Such are the two hundred
and five martyrs whose process could be regularly conducted. Of these
seventy-eight were members of religious orders in the strict sense, being
priests, catechists or tertiaries. Saint Dominic numbers twenty-one children;
Saint Francis, eighteen; Saint Augustine, five; and Saint Ignatius,
thirty-four.
These were not the last
martyrs. The persecution continued to immolate the Japanese by hundreds and
from 1632 to 1646 seven more Dominicans, two Franciscans, two Augustinians, and
forty Jesuits were put to death for the faith, some by fire, others by the
horrible torture of the pit. Even later it was not fear that arrested the
missionaries; but the impossibility of penetrating into Japan, without
trampling on the image of Jesus crucified. The country was closed, till the
moment God had set apart to pour down his favors on the descendants of so many
noble martyrs.
– from Life of the Blessed Charles Spinola, of the Society of Jesus,
with a Sketch of the Other Japanese Martyrs Beatified on the 7th of July 1867,
by Joseph Broeckaert, S.J., 1869
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/sketch-of-the-other-japanese-martyrs-beatified-on-the-7th-of-july-1867/
Beato Alfonso
Navarrete Sacerdote domenicano, martire
Festa: 1 giugno
>>> Visualizza la
Scheda del Gruppo cui appartiene
Logroño, Spagna, 21
settembre 1571 - Omura, Giappone, 1° giugno 1617
Nativo della Vecchia
Castiglia, entrò nel convento domenicano di Valladolid.Nel 1598 partì per le
missioni nelle Filippine, dove si dedicò all'apostolato con tale entusiasmo e
zelo che fu colpito da un forte esaurimento e i superiori lo fecero ritornare
in Spagna. Nel 1611 ottenne di ritornare in Oriente. Fu prima a Manila e poi in
Giappone, dove fondò le confraternite del Rosario e del ss.mo Nome di Gesù e
diffuse il libro di fra Luigi de Granada Guida del peccatore in giapponese. Nel
1614 l'imperatore del Giappone iniziò la persecuzione vietando ai suoi sudditi
di abbracciare la fede cattolica e intimando a tutti i missionari cattolici di
lasciare il paese sotto pena di morte. Da questo momento fino al 1° giugno del
1617, giorno in cui fu decapitato, il b. Alfonso, instancabile come sempre,
incoraggiava i cristiani a perseverare nella fede, battezzava, confessava,
predicava, celebrava la s. Messa, riconciliava gli apostati.
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: A Omura in Giappone, beati martiri Alfonso Navarrete, dell’Ordine
dei Predicatori, Ferdinando di San Giuseppe de Ayala, dell’Ordine degli Eremiti
di Sant’Agostino, sacerdoti, e Leone Tanaka, religioso della Compagnia di Gesù,
che in odio alla fede cristiana, per editto del comandante supremo Hidetada,
insieme furono decapitati.
Il 7 maggio 1867 Pio IX beatificò 205 confessori della fede, martirizzati in Giappone nella prima metà del secolo XVII. Tra di loro figura pure Alfonso Navarrete, protomartire domenicano nell’impero del sol levante, cugino del B. Alfonso de Mena, ucciso pure lui in odio alla fede il 10 settembre 1622.
Egli nacque il 21 settembre 1571 a Logrono, nella Vecchia Castiglia (Spagna), da nobile famiglia. Ancora giovanotto si fece domenicano nel convento di San Paolo in Valladolid, e, quattro anni dopo, partì per Manila, capitale delle isole Filippine e centro della provincia del SS. Rosario, da dove salpavano i missionari per l\’evangelizzazione della Cina, del Giappone e dell\’Indocina.
Dopo che ebbe imparato la lingua del luogo, i superiori destinarono il Navarrete alla cura spirituale della Nuova Scozia, popolata da indigeni, cinesi, e indiani che professavano diverse religioni. Il beato si diede al ministero della predicazione e delle confessioni con tanto zelo che in poco tempo si esaurì. Il provinciale lo richiamò allora a Manila e poi lo rimandò a Valladolid perché si ristabilisse in salute. Ricuperate alquanto le forze, si recò a Roma (1609) per ottenere dal Maestro Generale, P. Agostino Galamini, la facoltà di cercare nelle province spagnuole cinquanta religiosi, dotti e di vita santa, disposti a seguirlo nelle isole Filippine, dove i domenicani convertivano alla fede cattolica intere città. Il suo viaggio fu coronato da successo.
In Giappone, fin dal 1602, un manipolo di Frati Predicatori lavorava sotto la guida del B. Francesco de Morales (+10 settembre 1622) alla conversione dei pagani. Avendo costui chiesto l’aiuto di altri missionari, il P. Navarrete ottenne il permesso di recarsi a Manila (1611) con un altro confratello. Sostò a Nagasaki per apprendere la lingua, poi si diede con sì grande zelo alla conversione degli abitanti di Meako, alle dipendenze del vicario il B. Giacinto Orfanel (+10 settembre 1622), che cadde in un grave esaurimento. Fu richiamato a Manila perché si rimettesse in salute, ma lo stesso anno (1612) ottenne di fare ritornò in Giappone.
Le crescenti ostilità verso i missionari, da parte dei protestanti e dei bonzi, spinsero il beato a riordinare la Confraternita del Rosario in maniera che potesse funzionare, sotto la direzione di alcuni laici da lui chiamati "maggiordomi", anche nel caso che sia lui che i suoi confratelli fossero stati costretti ad abbandonare il paese. Nei centri missionari in cui passava lasciava la Guida del Peccatore di Luigi di Granada (+1588), tradotta in giapponese, perché nelle adunanze domenicali fosse letta dai fedeli. Per combattere la bestemmia fondò la confraternita del SS. Nome di Gesù e, d\’intesa con il B. Apollinare Franco, francescano (+12 settembre 1622) e il B. Ferdinando di S. Giuseppe, agostiniano, istituì a Nagasaki, con buone rendite, un sodalizio per il soccorso dei poveri, molto numerosi nella regione, ed un ospizio per la raccolta dei bambini esposti ed abbandonati.
Nel 1614 il generalissimo (Shogun) Tokugawa Ieyasu (+1616) proibì ai giapponesi di farsi cristiani e ordinò a tutti i missionari di abbandonare il paese, sotto pena di morte. Essi furono concentrati tutti a Nagasaki per l’imbarco, ma con l’aiuto dei cristiani, al calare delle tenebre molti ritornarono sui propri passi. Il Navarrete per circa tre anni visse nascosto in casa del B. Gaspare Ficogirò (11 ottobre 1617) e Giovanni Mugnos, sempre pronto ad accorrere, sotto mentite spoglie, dove c’erano morenti da assistere, sacramenti da amministrare e liti da comporre.
In ottemperanza agli ordini del Shogun, lo stesso anno 1614 il governatore di Nagasaki ordinò ai soldati, venuti dal regno di Arima, di bruciare sulla pubblica piazza le reliquie e gli oggetti sacri delle chiese, di denudare le donne che si fossero dichiarate cristiane e di portarle così in giro per la città. Il missionario, inorridito a quello spettacolo, cercò d\’impedirlo facendo pressione sui capi, ma fu malmenato tanto barbaramente dai soldati che sarebbe morto se un cristiano giapponese non l’avesse sottratto alle loro mani.
Nel 1615 il Navarrete fu nominato vicario provinciale dei Domenicani rimasti in Giappone. Con l’avvento al potere amministrativo dello Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada (+1632) la persecuzione aumentò di furore. Essendosi egli accorto che, nonostante l\’editto di esilio, nel suo regno e specialmente nel principato di Omura, molti missionari esercitavano ancora il loro ministero, ne fece aspre rimostranze al governatore della città. Costui, mediante l’ausilio di apostati e delatori, cercò di catturarli.
I primi a subire il martirio furono il B. Pietro dell’Assunzione, francescano, e il B. Giovanbattista Machado, gesuita (+22 maggio 1617). Il 24 maggio 1617 il beato, avendo udito parlare della grande costernazione che la morte dei due missionari aveva cagionato nei cristiani, scrisse una lettera ai confratelli che si trovavano ancora in Giappone per avvertirli della decisione, che aveva preso, di recarsi ad Omura per ammonire i caduti e confermare nella fede i vacillanti anche a costo della vita.
Manifestò il suo eroico disegno al B. Ferdinando di S. Giuseppe il quale, essendo l’unico agostiniano rimasto in Giappone, accettò di condividerne le fatiche e i rischi. Costui era nato nel 1575 a Bellestero, nell’arcidiocesi di Toledo (Spagna), dalla nobile famiglia degli Ayala, nel 1594 aveva emesso i voti, a Montilla, nell’Ordine di S. Agostino e, dopo gli studi fatti ad Alcalà, si era dato alla predicazione ed era stato mandato successivamente nel Messico, nelle Filippine e quindi in Giappone (1605) con la qualifica generale di vicario generale del suo Ordine.
Quando i due coraggiosi missionari uscirono da Nagasaki, sostarono in casa di un buon cristiano per trascorrervi la notte. Il B. Francesco de Morales li andò a trovare per informarsi dei motivi che li avevano spinti a prendere quella pericolosa decisione. Appena si divulgò la notizia della partenza dei due missionari, molti cristiani provenienti da Nagasaki e da altre località li raggiunsero nel luogo dove si trovavano, e chiesero di potersi confessare. Giunti nel principato di Omura, i due missionari visitarono il sepolcro di Pietro dell’Assunzione e di G. B. Machado, e, per infondere maggior coraggio nell’animo dei cristiani, indossarono di nuovo l’abito domenicano che avevano deposto tre anni prima. Giunti a Nagoye, fu tale la ressa dei cristiani che volevano confessarsi e fare la comunione, che furono costretti a fermarvisi quattro giorni.
Quell’afflusso di fedeli esacerbò Michele, principe apostata di Omura. Sul far della sera egli mandò in quella città tre piccole imbarcazioni con alcuni soldati armati affinchè arrestassero i due missionari. Gli ordini furono eseguiti con umanità. Il Navarrete ne approfittò per consegnare ad uno dei commissari la lettera che aveva scritto al principe di Omura per rimproverargli l’apostasia dalla fede e l’uccisione di Pietro dell’Assunzione e di G. B. Machado. Il giorno dopo sia lui che il suo compagno avrebbero desiderato celebrare la loro ultima messa, ma non fu ad essi consentito. Mentre venivano condotti alla spiaggia per essere tragittati ad Omura, i fedeli si strinsero loro intorno per riceverne, in lacrime, la benedizione, per baciarne le mani e tagliuzzarne le vesti.
Temendo tumulti da parte dei cristiani, molto numerosi nella regione, il principe Michele pensò di farli decapitare in un’isola disabitata. Lo stratagemma riuscì vano perché i cristiani che accorsero furono talmente numerosi che i due prigionieri dovettero trascorrere diverse ore nell’udire le loro confessioni. Tra gli altri penitenti si notarono la nonna del principe apostata, Maddalena, e la zia materna, Marina, alla quale il Navarrete lasciò come ricordo la medaglia della Madonna che portava al collo.
I due prigionieri furono fatti salire in barca con il B. Leone Tanaca, catechista giapponese, trattenuto in prigione dopo il martirio del B. Machado, suo maestro. Mentre venivano trasportati nell’isola Coguchi con le casse racchiudenti i corpi dissotterrati di Pietro dell’Assunzione e di G. B. Machado, i servi di Dio si confortavano a vicenda tenendo in un mano la croce e nell’altra il rosario e una candela accesa. Giunti al luogo del supplizio P. Ferdinando volle baciare la spada che gli avrebbe reciso la testa e poiché sapeva molto bene il giapponese, parlò in difesa di sé e dei suoi compagni ai presenti ed esortò i cristiani, che erano riusciti a frammischiarsi ai marinai, a restare saldi nella fede. Postisi in ginocchio a poca distanza l’uno dall’altro furono decapitati il 1° giugno 1617 a Tacaxima.
Per impedire che i cristiani venerassero i giustiziati, il principe Michele ordinò ai soldati di mettere i loro corpi nelle casse che racchiudevano già quelli del B. Pietro dell’Assunzione e del B. Giovanbattista Machado, e di gettarli in mare con il corpo di Leone Tanaca, avvolto in un stuoia, piena di pietre. I cristiani fecero numerosi tentativi per ripescare i corpi dei martiri, ma inutilmente. Dopo sei mesi il mare restituì soltanto la cassa contenente i corpo di Pietro dell’Assunzione e di Ferdinando di S. Giuseppe. Essendo "ancora interi nelle carni e nelle vesti" essi furono ricevuti e custoditi con grande venerazione da quella fervente cristianità. Tra i beati martiri del Giappone figurano domenicani, francescani, agostiniani e gesuiti e molti laici appartenenti a tutte le classi sociali.
Piuttosto di rinnegare la propria fede essi a Nagasaki, a Omura, a Scimabara, a Iexdo e a Cocura di Bugen preferirono lasciarsi decapitare, crocifiggere, bruciare vivi a fuoco lento, immergere in acque bollenti o gelate, dilaniare con tenaglie e ferri roventi, sospendere per i piedi con la testa all\’ingiù e immersa in una fossa piena di immondizie. Le vittime della persecuzione furono migliaia, ma soltanto di 205 fu possibile, nei processi istruiti a Manila, a Macao e a Madrid, raccogliere prove sufficienti del loro martirio.
Autore: Guido Pettinati
Fonte : www.paginecattoliche.it
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90865
Beato Ferdinando di
San Giuseppe de Ayala Sacerdote agostinianoo, martire
Festa: 1 giugno
>>> Visualizza la
Scheda del Gruppo cui appartiene
Toledo, Spagna, 1575 -
Omura, Giappone, 1° giugno 1617
Nato in Spagna nel 1575,
abbracciò la vita religiosa nell'Ordine di Sant'Agostino e si dedicò con
fervore alla predicazione del Vangelo. Attraversò oceani e continenti,
giungendo in Messico, Filippine e infine in Giappone, dove assunse il ruolo di
vicario generale. Nel 1617, scosso dal martirio di due confratelli, decise di
recarsi a Nagasaki, nonostante i rischi, per rincuorare i cristiani e
riaffermare la fede. Catturato e decapitato insieme al beato Alfonso Navarrete,
Ferdinando di San Giuseppe divenne martire il 1° giugno 1617. Il suo corpo,
miracolosamente recuperato dal mare, divenne simbolo di tenacia e devozione,
testimoniando la forza della fede di fronte alle persecuzioni. Beatificato nel
1867.
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: A Omura in Giappone, beati martiri Alfonso Navarrete, dell’Ordine
dei Predicatori, Ferdinando di San Giuseppe de Ayala, dell’Ordine degli Eremiti
di Sant’Agostino, sacerdoti, e Leone Tanaka, religioso della Compagnia di Gesù,
che in odio alla fede cristiana, per editto del comandante supremo Hidetada,
insieme furono decapitati.
Nacque l'anno 1575 nell'arcidiocesi di Toledo, in Spagna, e il 9 magg. 1594 fece la professione religiosa nell'Ordine di Sant'Agostino a Montilla. Datosi alla predicazione, fu inviato prima nel Messico (1603), poi nelle Filippine (1604) e infine nel Giappone (1605) con la qualifica di vicario generale del suo Ordine. Poiché il martirio dei beati Pietro dell'Assunzione e Giovanni Battista Maciado de Tavora, avvenuto il 22 maggio 1617, aveva scosso i cristiani di Omoura, il nostro santo missionario si ritenne in dovere di uscire da Nagasaki, dove viveva nascosto, per andare, anche a costo della vita, a confermare i vacillanti e ammonire i caduti. Gli era compagno, nell'impresa pericolosa, il beato Alfonso Navarrete.
Arrestati dopo solo alcuni giorni per ordine di Michele, principe apostata di Omoura, i due padri furono decapitati il 1° giugno 1617. Ne condivise la sorte il catechista Leone Tanaca.
I loro corpi, chiusi nelle arche dove già si trovavano quelli di Pietro dell'Assunzione e di Giovanni Battista Maciado de Tavora, appositamente dissepolte, furono, al fine di evitare che i cristiani accorressero a venerarli, gettati in mare. Il Tanaca vi fu gettato in una stuoia. Tuttavia, scrive il Boero, "indi a sei mesi, venne improvvisamente a galla una delle arche che portata al lido e scoperchiata, si trovò contenere i corpi di Fr. Pietro e Fr. Ferdinando, ancora interissimi nelle carni e nelle vesti, che con gran divozione e riverenza furono accolti e custoditi da quella fiorente cristianità".
Ferdinando di S. Giuseppe fu beatificato con altri duecentoquattro martiri del Giappone con Breve di Pio IX del 7 maggio 1867. La solenne cerimonia in San Pietro ebbe luogo il 7 luglio dello stesso anno. È festeggiato il giorno del suo martirio, ossia il 1° giugno.
Autore: Pietro Burchi
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/55521
Beato Leone Tanaka Religioso
gesuita, martire
Festa: 1 giugno
>>> Visualizza la
Scheda del Gruppo cui appartiene
Omi, Giappone, 1590 circa
- Omura, Giappone, 1° giugno 1617
Nacque da una famiglia
cattolica giapponese e fin da giovane visse nell'ambito della Compagnia di
Gesù. Divenuto catechista cooperò nell'apostolato con Giambattista Machado. Con
questi infatti venne catturato nelle isole di Gotò e successivamente trasferito
nelle carceri di Omura e di Cori. Era talmente affezionato al Machado che
ottenne di accompagnarlo fino al luogo del martirio; dopo la decapitazione
raccolse con pannolini il sangue del martire. Qualche giorno dopo l'uccisione
del suo maestro poté seguirlo, come desiderava, nella gloria. Infatti il 1°
giugno 1617 fu egli pure decapitato assieme al p. Navarrete e a Fernando di S.
Giuseppe. Il corpo fu gettato in mare entro una stuoia legata a sassi, per
impedirne ai cristiani il recupero e la venerazione. Mentre le salme dei suoi
due compagni di martirio vennero ripescate, il suo corpo invece non venne mai
ritrovato. Pio IX il 6 luglio 1867 lo proclamò beato.
Martirologio
Romano: A Omura in Giappone, beati martiri Alfonso Navarrete, dell’Ordine
dei Predicatori, Ferdinando di San Giuseppe de Ayala, dell’Ordine degli Eremiti
di Sant’Agostino, sacerdoti, e Leone Tanaka, religioso della Compagnia di Gesù,
che in odio alla fede cristiana, per editto del comandante supremo Hidetada,
insieme furono decapitati.
Leone Tanaka nacque in Giappone da una famiglia devota alla fede cristiana. Fin da giovane, si immerse nell'ambiente della Compagnia di Gesù, attratto dai valori di evangelizzazione e servizio al prossimo che essa incarnava.
Mosso da un profondo zelo apostolico, Leone Tanaka divenne catechista, collaborando strettamente con il gesuita Giambattista Machado. Insieme, percorsero le isole di Gotò, diffondendo il Vangelo e rinforzando la fede delle comunità cristiane locali. La loro dedizione non passò inosservata alle autorità giapponesi, all'epoca ostili al Cristianesimo.
Nel 1617, Leone Tanaka e Giambattista Machado furono catturati e incarcerati nelle isole di Gotò. Furono poi trasferiti nelle carceri di Omura e Cori, dove subirono lunghi periodi di detenzione e privazioni.
Nonostante le dure prove, Leone Tanaka rimase fedele al suo mentore e alla sua fede. Il legame tra i due era talmente forte che Leone ottenne il permesso di accompagnare Giambattista Machado al luogo del martirio. Assistette alla decapitazione del suo maestro con immensa commozione e raccolse il suo sangue con dei pannolini, gesto che testimoniava la sua profonda devozione e il suo desiderio di seguire le sue orme.
Pochi giorni dopo la morte di Giambattista Machado, il 1° giugno 1617, Leone Tanaka fu a sua volta condannato a morte. Insieme a padre Alfonso Navarrete e Fernando di San Giuseppe, affrontò il martirio con coraggio e serenità. Decapitato, il suo corpo fu gettato in mare avvolto in una stuoia legata a sassi, nel tentativo di impedirne il recupero e la venerazione da parte dei cristiani.
Nonostante gli sforzi per cancellare la memoria di Leone Tanaka, la sua figura e il suo esempio di fede incrollabile continuarono ad ispirare i cristiani in Giappone. Nel 1867, Papa Pio IX lo proclamò Beato, confermando il suo status di martire e modello di virtù cristiana.
Autore: Franco Dieghi
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/94349
Den salige Alfonso
Navarrete (1571-1617)
Minnedag:
10. september
En av de 205 salige
martyrene av Japan
Den salige Alfonso
Navarrete ble født den 21. september 1571 i Logroño i Valladolid i Gamle
Castilla i Spania. Som svært ung ga han avkall på sin arv for å tre inn i
dominikanerordenen (Ordo Praedicatorum - OP). Etter å ha fullført
sine studier, ble han i 1598 sendt til Filippinene, hvor han arbeidet som
misjonær. I 1597 var en gruppe på 26 kristne, inkludert mange fransiskanere og
tre japanske jesuitter, blitt korsfestet i Nagasaki (se den hellige Paul Miki og hans
ledsagere). Til tross for farene lengtet dominikanerne, som hadde vært
utvist fra Japan i mange år, etter å reise til den farefulle misjonsmarken.
Spesielt Alfonso ba om å få tillatelse til å reise til Japan, etter at han i
1610 hadde vært en tur i Europa for å rekruttere misjonærer.
I 1611 ble hans tilbud om
å reise til Japan endelig akseptert, og han ble sendt dit som provinsialvikar
for dominikanernes misjon der. Under denne korte perioden med fred begynte de
sitt arbeid, og i løpet av seks år med stadig økende fare instruerte de folket
og forberedte dem på de fryktelige dagene som skulle komme. Det fortelles at
han omvendte mange tusen til kristendommen, og han kalles «Japans Vincent de Paul»
fordi det var han som først begynte på den enorme oppgaven å ta seg av de
forlatte barna i landet. Han samlet opp de hjemløse barna og sørget for dem med
penger han tigde fra velstående spanjoler.
Den andre store
forfølgelsen i Japan ble innvarslet ved at de to salige prestene Peter av
Himmelopptakelsen (av Cuerva) OFM og Johannes Baptist
Machado SJ ble halshogd i Kori nær Nagasaki den 22. mai 1617. Alfonso
og den salige augustineren Ferdinand Ayala (av
St. Josef) bestemte seg for å dra til Omura for å redde martyrenes relikvier og
trøste de kristne. Men de ble tatt på veien, og sammen med en ung innfødt kateket,
den salige Leo
Tanaka, ble de halshogd på øya Tacaxima (Takashima) den 1. juni 1617.
Deretter ble de kastet i sjøen.
Alfonso ble saligkåret
den 7. juli 1867 av den salige pave Pius IX (1846-78)
som En av de 205 salige martyrene av Japan (nr 1 på listen). Dokumentet (Breve)
er datert 7. mai 1867. Han har fått æren av å stå som representant for gruppen,
som offisielt heter: «Alfonso Navarrete og hans 204 ledsagere, martyrer i Japan
mellom 1617 og 1632».
De enkelte martyrene har
sine egne minnedager, stort sett på sine dødsdatoer, men for gruppen som helhet
har vi valgt 10. september, datoen for den store massakren i Nagasaki i 1622,
da 22 ble brent levende og 30 ble halshogd. Alfonsos minnedag er dødsdagen 1.
juni.
Kilder:
Attwater/Cumming, Benedictines, Bunson, Index99, KIR - Kompilasjon og
oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden -
Sist oppdatert: 2000-10-20 22:59
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/anavarre
1 de junio de 2015
Beatos
ALFONSO NAVARRETE, FERNANDO DE SAN JOSÉ AYALA y LEÓN TANAKA. M. 1617.
Martirologio Romano: En
Omura, en Japón, beatos mártires Alfonso Navarrete, de la Orden de
Predicadores, Fernando de San José de Ayala, de la Orden de los Ermitaños de
San Agustín, y León Tanaka, religioso de la Compañía de Jesús, que, por
decisión del comandante supremo Hidetada, fueron decapitados a causa de la fe
cristiana.
Los dominicos, llegados
al Japón en 1602, establecieron su campo de misión en la isla de Kyóshó. Cuando
llegaron ya se había promulgado el edicto de persecución contra los cristianos,
a pesar de las torturas y los tormentos antes de la ejecución que practicaban
los japoneses, los misioneros católicos no se detienen. El primero que llegó
fue el madrileño padre el beato Francisco Morales, junto con otros cinco
dominicos que se asentaron primero en Koshiki y extendieron su campo de acción
por otras partes del Japón, fueron llegando nuevos misioneros, y se fueron
convirtiendo los indígenas. Gracias a la relativa calma que hubo en primera
década del siglo XVII fundaron las iglesias de Kyoto y Osaka. Pero en 1616 se
inició una nueva persecución mucho más fuerte, y las cárceles se fueron
llenando de misioneros y cristianos indígenas. Por privilegio especial los
dominicos encarcelados podían admitir a la Orden, mediante la profesión, a
cristianos de probada fidelidad y de piedad; dado el fervor religiosos que se
respiraba en la cárcel, la cárcel parecía más un convento que una prisión.
Todos compartieron la oración y el testimonio apostólico.
Alfonso Navarrete (1571
- 1617). Nació en Logroño en 1571. Ingresó en los dominicos en el convento de
San Pablo de Valladolid y trabajó primero como misionero en Filipinas (1596)
donde trabajó en la provincia de Cagayán pero una enfermedad le obligó a
regresar a España para restablecerse; allí se dedicó a reclutar misioneros para
el Extremo Oriente. En 1611 fue enviado a Miyako, Japón, de ahí a Nagasaki, de
donde fue desterrado en 1614. Fue nombrado vicario provincial y promovió la
Cofradía del Rosario, que dio a la Iglesia numerosos mártires, y la Hermandad
de la Caridad para atender a los enfermos. Se dice que convirtió al
cristianismo a muchas personas. Se le conoció como “el san Vicente de Paúl” del
Japón, porque se dedicaba a rescatar a los niños abandonados. En 1617 fue a
Ômura, donde predicó abiertamente el evangelio, por lo que fue detenido y
llevado de una parte a otra de la bahía de Ômura, hasta ser decapitado en
Tkashima junto al agustino Fernando de San José Ayala. Es el protomártir
de los dominicos en el Japón.
Fernando de San José (1575
- 1617). Nació en Ballestero, en la diócesis de Toledo en 1575. Ingresó en los
agustinos en Montilla y en 1603 fue enviado a Méjico y después al Japón (1605)
como vicario provincial. Trabajó con mucho éxito en Oxaka hasta que fue
capturado y ejecutado en Ômura.
León Tanaka. Nació
en el seno de una familia cristiana japonesa. En su adolescencia fue acogido
por los misioneros jesuitas y lo prepararon para ser catequista tanto de niños
como de catecúmenos. Profesó como jesuita. Como catequista trabajó para el
beato jesuita Juan Bautista Machado de Tavora, como era costumbre de asignar a
cada misionero un catequista; le acompañó en todas su correrías apostólicas,
llegando a la isla de Goto, donde fueron arrestados. León se negó a separarse
del misionero. Fueron encerrados en la prisión de Ômura. El padre Machado fue
martirizado el 22 de Mayo, y a León se le ofreció la vida y la libertad si
apostaba, pero no quiso. Fue decapitado en Ômura. Fueron beatificados el 7
de mayo de 1867 por SS Pío IX.
SOURCE : https://hagiopedia.blogspot.com/2013/06/beatos-alfonso-navarrete-fernando-de.html
Beato Alfonso Navarrete
Navarrete Benito, Alfonso. Logroño (La Rioja), 21.IX.1571 − Nagasaki (Japón), 1.VI.1617. Sacerdote dominico (OP), mártir y beato.
Biografía
Nacido en el seno de una
familia distinguida por sus virtudes cristianas, entró en el Convento de San
Pablo de Valladolid, donde tomó el hábito y profesó. Después de recibir la
ordenación sacerdotal (1595), se alistó para participar en la labor misionera
que la Orden Dominica realizaba en Extremo Oriente. Embarcó en Cádiz rumbo a
México, para volver a embarcarse en Acapulco con destino a Manila, donde pisó
tierra filipina en julio del año siguiente. Desde 1600 y durante varios años
ejerció el ministerio pastoral en Patta, en la provincia de Cagayán, pero tuvo
que retirarse al Convento de Santo Domingo de Manila por enfermedad. Ya
recuperado, volvió a Cagayán (1602), aunque, debido a una recaída, se vio
obligado a regresar a Manila y pedir a los superiores volver a España para
reponerse en el Convento de Valladolid. Aquí le fue encomendada la misión de
reclutar misioneros para Oriente y en sus giras por los conventos de España
logró reunir numerosos religiosos jóvenes dispuestos a zarpar hacia Filipinas.
No del todo recuperado
todavía, volvió a Manila (1611) con un grupo de jóvenes dominicos reclutados
para la misión oriental. Y en este mismo año fue destinado a Japón con
residencia en Kyoto. Volvió a viajar a Manila, pero enseguida se reintegró a la
misión de Japón, esta vez con asignación en Nagasaki. Sin embargo, la
persecución encarnizada contra el cristianismo no permitía una residencia
indefinida y las órdenes de destierro eran frecuentes. Efectivamente, ante la
orden de expulsión de los misioneros, el padre Navarrete tuvo que abandonar
Nagasaki, aunque no de manera definitiva. Sirviéndose de una estratagema, en
vez de salir para un país extranjero, se embarcó rumbo a Usuki, en la actual
provincia de Ôita, junto con el superior de los religiosos agustinos Hernando
de Ayala, con lo cual logró permanecer en tierras japonesas.
Nombrado superior de los
dominicos (1615), el padre Navarrete incrementó su labor misionera y empezó a
organizar varias asociaciones con el fin de intensificar la ayuda a los
cristianos. Fusionando varias cofradías, creó la Cofradía del Rosario de
Número, que estaba formada por fervientes cristianos procedentes de varias
asociaciones. Entre ellos hubo quienes posteriormente testimoniaron la fe
cristiana con el martirio. Compartió con los franciscanos y agustinos la
promoción de la Cofradía de la Caridad, destinada a atender a los enfermos y
marginados, huérfanos y abandonados de las comarcas vecinas. Potenció de manera
especial la Cofradía del Rosario, que tuvo una gran importancia en la historia
del cristianismo japonés, aun después de expulsados todos los misioneros y
cerradas las fronteras a toda influencia occidental. En efecto, gracias a la
devoción del rosario mariano, se conservó la fe cristiana entre los creyentes
que, ante el furor de la persecución, se refugiaron en el archipiélago de Gotô,
a unos cien kilómetros de Nagasaki. Allí se mantuvieron, con mayor o menor
fidelidad, las creencias cristianas, tomando como pauta los quince misterios
del Rosario, de tal modo que, cuando se restauró la Iglesia de Japón a finales
del siglo XIX, la primera comunidad cristiana se formó en Nagasaki con la
aparición de algunos núcleos de fieles escondidos en Gotô.
Decidido a ejercer el
ministerio públicamente, con el fin de mover a los cristianos a confesar sus
convicciones sin miedo a la persecución, salió en compañía del agustino padre
Ayala hacia Omura el día 25 de mayo de 1617. En realidad, mientras en algunas
zonas se daba un florecimiento de la vida cristiana, en otras los cristianos
abrigaban reparos e incluso miedo a manifestar externamente su fe. Por eso, en
mayo de 1617, desafiando el furor anticristiano, ambos misioneros se
arriesgaron a lanzarse a un ministerio público de mayor alcance y de gran
peligro. No es extraño que esta actitud les costara la detención y sus
consecuencias y, de hecho, los dos compartirían muy pronto el martirio y el
honor de los altares como habían compartido sus andanzas misioneras.
A los pocos días, el
padre Navarrete fue detenido en Ômura y conducido a la pequeña isla de
Takashima donde, el 1 de junio de 1617, fue decapitado. Lo beatificó el papa
Pío IX (7 de julio de 1867) junto con otros 205 mártires de Japón. Su fiesta se
celebra el 10 de septiembre.
El padre Navarrete es el
protomártir de los dominicos en Japón y uno de los fundadores de la misión dominica
en Japón el año 1602. Bajo la dirección del padre Francisco Morales, llegaron
de Manila para iniciar una actividad misionera que duraría hasta 1637.
En la primera década del
siglo XVII, los misioneros pudieron gozar de una relativa calma y, como consecuencia,
desplegar su actividad en diversas zonas de la isla de Kyûshû e incluso llegar
a fundar iglesias en Kyoto y Osaka. La situación empeoró considerablemente
cuando, en 1614, el sogún Tokugawa Ieyasu publicó un edicto más represivo y
severo. Los religiosos se vieron entonces forzados a ampararse en la oscuridad
de la noche para evangelizar y animar a los cristianos laicos.
Ieyasu murió en 1616,
pero Hidetada, su sucesor en el shogunado, intensificó la opresión contra el
cristianismo. Poco a poco las cárceles se fueron llenando de religiosos:
jesuitas, agustinos, franciscanos, dominicos y fervientes laicos cristianos...,
que sucesivamente fueron conducidos al altar del martirio. Pero la inmolación
final estaba precedida de reclusiones, castigos y suplicios difíciles de
imaginar, hasta el punto de que la sola descripción de algunos de ellos, como
los tormentos de la horca y hoya, el agua ingurgitada, la incrustación de
agujas en los dedos, etc., hiere la sensibilidad de cualquier persona. Así, con
sangre de martirio, se escribió la historia del cristianismo japonés.
Obras
“Cartas”, Japón, 1617 [en
F. Morales (OP), Relación del glorioso martirio de los PP. Alfonso
Navarrete, Vicario Provincial de Japón, y de Fr. Hernando de San José, Vicario
Provincial, agustino, también en Japón, 1617 (inéd.)] (en Archivo de la
Provincia del Santo Rosario, Manila, ms. t. 301, fols. 1-30).
Bibliografía
H. Ocio, Compendio
de la reseña biográfica de los religiosos de la provincia del Rosario, Manila,
Est. Tipográfico del Real Colegio de Santo Tomás, 1895, pág. 32
J. M. González,
“Navarrete, Alonso”, en Q. Aldea Vaquero, T. Marín Martínez y J. Vives Gatell
(dirs.), Diccionario de Historia Eclesiástica de España, vol. III,
Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto Enrique
Flórez, 1973, pág. 1770
J. Delgado y P. G.
Tejero, “Mártires de Japón”, en Testigos de la fe en Oriente, Madrid,
Secretariado de Misiones Dominicanas, 1987, págs. 113-115
H. Ocio y E. Neira, Misioneros
dominicos en el Extremo Oriente, vol. I, Manila, Life Today Editions,
2000, págs. 71-72
J. González Valles,
“Beato Alfonso Navarrete y 19 compañeros mártires”, en J. A. Martínez Puche
(dir.), Nuevo año Cristiano (septiembre), Madrid, Edibesa, 2001,
págs. 548-549.
Autor/es
Jesús González Valles, OP
SOURCE : https://historia-hispanica.rah.es/biografias/33387-beato-alfonso-navarrete
domingo, 1 de junio de
2014
BEATO
FERNANDO AYALA DE SAN JOSÉ
Imagen del Beato Fernando
Ayala de San José que se encuentra en la sacristía de la S. I. P. B. Catedral
de Ciudad Real
Hoy 1 de junio, es la
festividad de San Fernando Ayala de San José, un beato de la provincia de
Ciudad Real, poco conocido. Nació nuestro Beato en Ballesteros (Ciudad Real);
sus padres Hernando de Ayala y María Fernández eran de sangre noble. Él,
sintiéndose llamado a la vida religiosa, ingresó en el convento agustiniano de
Montilla (Córdoba) el 18 de mayo de 1593, profesando el 19 de mayo del año
siguiente. Cursó la carrera eclesiástica en Alcalá de Henares, dando prueba de
una gran capacidad intelectual, por lo que fue invitado a explicar allí un
curso de Artes. Sin embargo, sus inquietudes apostólicas le llevaron a
alistarse en una de las misiones enviadas con destino a las Islas Filipinas,
embarcándose en 1603.
En su breve estancia en
México, en donde se retomaban fuerzas para reemprender la travesía del
Pacífico, llamó la atención, desde el primer momento, por sus enfervorizados
sermones. Llegó a Manila en 1604, donde permaneció poco más de un año, pues en
1605 pasó al Imperio del Sol Naciente, empleando unos meses en aprender la
lengua. Pasó después a trabajar en la ciudad de Bungo y lugares aledaños, donde
había numerosos catecúmenos y cristianos que pedían, aquéllos el bautismo y
todos instrucción. Dice un cronista que en los dos años siguientes bautizó a
unos tres mil, entre adultos y niños. En 1607 regresó a Filipinas a solicitar
el envío de más religiosos. Y con ellos, estaba de vuelta poco después, como
Vicario-Provincial de los Religiosos Agustinos.
En 1612 fundó un pequeño
convento en la ciudad de Nagasaki, del que fue nombrado Prior en la
Congregación Intermedia de la Provincia. Hasta esa fecha pudo trabajar con
relativa libertad; fue a partir de entonces cuando comenzaron las dificultades
y persecuciones, no sólo contra los religiosos sino también contra todos los
cristianos. Nuestro fray Fernando pudo esconderse y, junto con algunos
religiosos dominicos, continuar con su actividad apostólica, decidido a
arrostrar los peligros que le amenazaban. Al saber que en el reino de Omura los
cristianos reclamaban la presencia de algún sacerdote, allá se dirigió en 1617.
Tanto él como el dominico fray Alonso Navarrete pudieron ejercer el apostolado
durante algún tiempo, hasta que se hizo pública su presencia. El reyezuelo de
Amura mandó prenderlos. Y el simple hecho de ser sacerdotes de la Iglesia
Católica fue causa suficiente para condenarlos a muerte. La sentencia fue
ejecutada en la isla de Tacaxima, siendo decapitados a machetazos el 1 de julio
del mismo año.
El P. T. de Herrera en su
Alfabeto recoge esta noticia: su cuerpo y el del franciscano fray Pedro de la
Ascensión, martirizado también, fueron depositados en una caja, a la que ataron
una gran piedra y arrojaron al mar. Años más tarde, acaso al pudrirse las
cuerdas, salió a flote la caja con los cuerpos. Descubierta por los cristianos,
aunque exponiéndose gravemente a ser denunciados, recogieron los venerables
restos.
Ponderan los cronistas
que en muy poco tiempo fray Fernando había conseguido dominar la lengua
japonesa, en la cual «salió muy experto», tanto que fue capaz de traducir a
ella varios libros devotos, como el Sumario de las Indulgencias de la Santa
Correa y una Vida de san Agustín. A este propósito, escribe el P. J. Sicardo:
«para fomento de la cristiandad de Nagasaki compuso algunos libros devotos y
elegantes en lengua nipona con que aprovecharon mucho los cristianos». También
se conservan varias cartas suyas, algunas de las cuales fueron escritas desde
la prisión. Fray Fernando Ayala de San José fue beatificado por el Papa Pío IX el
7 de julio de 1867.
SOURCE : https://elsayon.blogspot.com/2014/06/beato-fernando-ayala-de-san-jose.html
Fernando de Ayala,
presbítero y mártir
lunes, 1 de junio de 2026
Fernando de San José, de
la noble familia de los Ayala, nació en Ballesteros de Calatrava. Todavía
adolescente, ingresó en la Orden de los Agustinos Ermitaños.
Ordenado sacerdote, se embarcó para México y, luego, para Filipinas, movido por
el celo de extender el Evangelio. Llegó a Japón, donde fundó conventos de su
orden. Surgida una dura persecución contra los católicos, no dudó en predicar
valientemente el Evangelio de Cristo. Esto le acarreó la cárcel. Fue decapitado
en Omura, el 1 de junio de 1617. Pío IX lo declaró beato, junto con otros 204
mártires de Japón, el 7 de mayo de 1867.
SOURCE : https://www.diocesisciudadreal.es/santos/152/fernando-de-ayala-presbitero-y-martir.html
Beato Hernando de San
José
Ayala Fernández,
Hernando. Beato Hernando de San José. Ballesteros de Calatrava
(Ciudad Real), X.1575 – Tacaxima (Japón), 1.VI.1617. Agustino recoleto (ORSA),
beato y mártir.
Agustino Recoleto (Orden
Recoleta de San Agustín, ORSA)Beato, taMisionero, raMártirReligioso, saVicario
Biografía
Hijo de Hernando de Ayala
y María Fernández, se hizo agustino recoleto en el convento de Montilla
(Córdoba) el 19 de mayo de 1594. Estudió en la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares
(Madrid) y en 1603 fue destinado a las Filipinas, de donde pasó a Japón en
1605, donde tres años antes ya se habían instalado los agustinos. En enero de
1607 volvió a Manila, pero regresó enseguida a Japón con otros misioneros y con
el cargo de vicario provincial. Hasta 1612 no se pusieron trabas a su
ministerio, fundando un convento en Nagasaki. En 1614 fue expulsado del país,
pero no quiso abandonarlo y prefirió seguir ejerciendo su apostolado en la
clandestinidad. Descubierto y encarcelado, fue condenado a muerte, siendo
decapitado en compañía de su catequista, el japonés Andrés Yoshida.
Su cuerpo fue llevado a
Macao por el comerciante portugués Francisco Vieira de Figueiredo, quien
disputó su posesión por largo tiempo a los agustinos.
Muy poco después de su
muerte, fray Hernando Becerra publicó en Filipinas, en la imprenta de los
agustinos recoletos, un rarísimo opúsculo titulado Vida y muerte de fray
Hernando de San José y Nicolás Melo.
Fue beatificado en Roma
por el papa Pío IX, el 7 de julio de 1867, con otros religiosos agustinos y de
otras órdenes, mártires en Japón entre 1610 y 1637.
Bibliografía
M. Jiménez, Mártires
agustinos del Japón, o sea, vida y martirio de los beatos Fr. Fernando de San
José, Fr. Pedro de Zúñiga y demás compañeros mártires, beatificados en 7 de
julio del presente año por N. Santísimo Padre Pío IX, Valladolid, J. de la
Cuesta, 1867
J. T. Medina, Historia
de la imprenta en los antiguos dominios españoles de América y Oceanía, vol.
II, Santiago de Chile, Fondo Histórico y Bibliográfico José Toribio Medina,
1958, pág. 25
C. Alonso, “Hernando de
San José”, en Q. Aldea Vázquez, T. Marín Martínez y J. Vives Gatell
(dirs.), Diccionario de Historia Eclesiástica de España, vol. II,
Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto Enrique
Flórez, 1972, pág. 1087.
Autor/es
Miguel Carlos Vivancos
Gómez, OSB
SOURCE : https://historia-hispanica.rah.es/biografias/5458-beato-hernando-de-san-jose
BEATO LEÓN TANAKA
1 de junio
1617 d.C.
Nació en el
seno de una familia cristiana japonesa. En su adolescencia fue acogido por los
misioneros jesuitas y lo prepararon para ser catequista tanto de niños como de
catecúmenos. Profesó como jesuita. Como catequista trabajó para el beato
jesuita Juan Bautista Machado de Tavora, como era costumbre de asignar a cada
misionero un catequista; le acompañó en todas su correrías apostólicas,
llegando a la isla de Goto, donde fueron arrestados. León se negó a separarse
del misionero. Fueron encerrados en la prisión de Ômura. El padre Machado fue
martirizado el 22 de Mayo, y a León se le ofreció la vida y la libertad si
apostaba, pero no quiso. Fue decapitado en Ômura. Fueron beatificados el 7
de mayo de 1867 por SS Pío IX.
Página Principal
(Parroquia San Martín de Porres)
SOURCE : http://www.parroquiasanmartin.com/leontanaka.html
~ Martyrs of Japan ~ (†
1590-1715) [2] : http://newsaints.faithweb.com/martyrs/Japan02.htm
BEATO FERNANDO DE AYALA
IV Centenario de su martirio 1617–2017 : https://ballesterosdecalatrava.es/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Programa_Centenario.pdf
