Sainte Madeleine de
Nagasaki
Tertiaire
Dominicaine (+ 1634)
Martyre du Groupe des 16
martyrs (1633-37) de Nagasaki, Madeleine de Nagasaki est née au Japon,
fille d'un couple de chrétiens martyrisés, elle se consacra à Dieu.
Collaboratrice courageuse des Pères Augustins et Dominicains, son conseiller
spirituel était le Père Jourdain (Hyacinthe Ansalone). Quand celui-ci fut
arrêté, elle se présenta aux gardes, se déclarant chrétienne. Elle fut
cruellement martyrisée, resta inébranlable dans sa foi, pendue au gibet elle
mourut au bout de 13 jours le 15 octobre 1634 à Nagasaki.
Béatifiée le 18 février 1981 à Manille (Philippines), canonisée le 18 octobre
1987 à Rome par Jean Paul II.
"Quand Madeleine de Nagasaki vit que Jordan Esteban avait été emprisonné,
immédiatement elle se présenta aux autorités pour partager son martyre. Son
unique crime était d'avoir donné l'hospitalité aux chrétiens. Nous honorons ces
hommes et ces femmes et nous reconnaissons dans leur canonisation un message
pour les hommes d'aujourd'hui."
(source: Dominicains
du Canada)
À Nagasaki au Japon, en 1634, sainte Madeleine, vierge et martyre, d'une grande
force d'âme aussi bien pour encourager la foi que pour subir, pendant treize
jours, le supplice du gibet, sous le chef suprême Tokugawa Yemitsu.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/11172/Sainte-Madeleine-de-Nagasaki.html
Sainte Madeleine de
Nagasaki, martyre
Madeleine est née à
Nagasaki (Japon) d’un couple de chrétiens martyrisés ; elle se consacra à
Dieu comme tertiaire dominicaine. Collaboratrice courageuse des Pères Augustins
et Dominicains, son conseiller spirituel était le Père Jourdain (Hyacinthe
Ansalone). Quand celui-ci fut arrêté, elle se présenta aux gardes, se déclarant
chrétienne. Elle fut cruellement martyrisée, resta inébranlable dans sa foi,
pendue au gibet par ordre du chef suprême Tokugawa Yemitsu, elle mourut au bout
de 13 jours le 15 octobre 1634 à Nagasaki.
Estatua
a Santa Magdalena de Nagasaki, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Fátima, Mar del
Plata, Argentina
Statue
to Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki, Our Lady of Fatima church, Mar del Plata,
Argentina
MADELEINE DE NAGASAKI
Vierge, Martyre, Sainte
1610-1634
Madeleine, fille de
notables et ferventes chrétiens, naquit en 1610 dans un village très
proche de la ville de Nagasaki, au Japon. Les anciens manuscrits disent,
qu’elle était une belle jeune femme, gracieuse etdélicate. Ses parents
qui appartenaient à la noblesse étaient de fervents chrétiens, ainsi que le
reste de la famille. Elle était encore très jeune quand ses parents et ses
frères furent condamnés à mort à cause de leur foi en Jésus-Christ. Ils
subirent les tortures les plus horribles, car les persécuteurs d’alors étaient
d’une cruauté inouïe.
Malgré la disparition de
sa famille, elle continua d’être éduquée dans la voie chrétienne. En 1624 elle
connut deux augustiniens récollets, Francisco de Jésus et Vicente de Santo
Antonio. Attirée par la profonde spiritualité des deux missionnaires, qui
devint ses accompagnateurs spirituels, Madeleine finit par se consacrer à Dieu
et devint tertiaire augustinienne récollette. Dès lors, ses habits de noblesse
furent remplacés par l’habit religieux et ses seules occupations devinrent la
prière, la lecture de la Bible et l’apostolat.
C’étaient des temps très
difficiles. La persécution haineuse contre les chrétiens grandissait de jour en
jour en fureur et en cruauté. Les Pères Francisco et Vicente furent aussi
martyrisés. Madeleine, toutefois, ne fut point intimidée. Elle continua ferme,
inspirant courage aux chrétiens, enseignant le catéchisme aux enfants et
faisant l’aumône auprès des commerçants portugais, pour venir en aide aux
malades et aux pauvres.
En 1629, elle chercha
refuge dans les montagnes de Nagasaki, partageant les souffrances et les
angoisses de cette communauté naissante. Elle les encourageait pour qu’ils
restent fermes dans leur foi, et remettait dans chemin de l’Évangile ceux qui
avaient renié Jésus-Christ sous la torture. Elle apportait réconfort aux
malades et baptisait les enfants.
Devant le grand abandon
de la foi par les chrétiens, terrorisés par les tortures auxquelles ils étaient
soumis, s’ils ne faisaient n’abjuraient pas, et désirant s’unir à Jésus à
jamais, Madeleine décida d’affronter les persécuteurs. Vêtue de son habit, au
mois de septembre 1634, elle se présenta devant les juges. Elle n’avait en sa
possession que la Bible, afin de prêcher la parole de Jésus et méditer dans la
prison. Les magistrats, étonnés par sa beauté et sa jeunesse et renseignés sur
son rang familial, lui firent des promesses d’une vie confortable, allant même
jusqu’à lui proposer un mariage avantageux. Madeleine ne céda pas, même sachant
les tortures auxquelles elle s’exposait par son refus.
Dans les premiers jours
d’octobre 1634, elle fut torturée. On la suspendit par les pieds, la tête
plongée dans une fosse. Chaque fois qu’elle sortait de ce supplice pour
entendre une nouvelle fois la demande d’abjuration, elle restait toujours ferme
dans sa réponse négative et, avec audace, prononçait les noms de Jésus et Marie
ou chantait des cantiques ou des psaumes. Une fois encore elle était plongée
dans les mêmes immondices.
Cela dura treize jours et
demi ! Quand les eaux inondèrent complètement la fosse, Madeleine périt
noyée. Son corps fut brûlé et les cendres jetées à la mer, pour éviter que les
chrétiens puissent les garder comme des reliques.
Madeleine, “l’étoile de
Nagasaki” fut canonisée par le Pape Jean-Paul II en 1987.
En 1989 elle fut
proclamée patronne de la Fraternité Séculière des Augustiniennes Récollettes.
Alphonse Rocha
d’après plusieurs
sources.
SOURCE : http://nouvl.evangelisation.free.fr/madeleine_de_nagasaki.htm
Also
known as
Maddalena
28
September as one of the Augustinian
Martyrs of Japan
Profile
Her parents were martyred
when Magdalena was about nine years old. She became an Augustianian
tertiary,
and worked as an interpreter
and catechist
for Augustinian
missionaries
Father
Francis of Jesus Terrero and Father Vincent of Saint Anthony Simoens. Martyr.
Born
15
October 1634
in Nishizaka, Nagasaki, Japan
11
October 1980
by Pope
John
Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
18
February 1981
by Pope
John
Paul II
beatification
recognition celebrated in Manila, Philippines
18
October 1987
by Pope
John
Paul II
Secular
Augustinian Recollects
Additional
Information
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001
edición
fonti
in italiano
Associazione Storico-Culturale S. Agostino
Dicastero delle Cause dei Santi
Martirologio Romano, 2005
edition
MLA
Citation
‘Saint Magdalena of
Nagasaki‘. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 August 2023. Web. 6 October 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-magdalena-of-nagasaki/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-magdalena-of-nagasaki/
Bl. Magdalena of Nagasaki
Feastday: September 28
Patron: of Secular Augustinian Recollects
Birth: 1611
Death: 1634
Beatified: Pope John Paul II
Saint Magdalene of
Nagasaki was born in 1611 as the daughter of a Christian couple martyred about
1620. With the arrival of the Augustinian Order, Magdalene served as an
Augustinian lay sister or tertiary, interpreter and catechist for Fathers
Francis of Jesus Terrero and Vincent of Saint Anthony Simoens.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=7393
Saint
Magdalene of Nagasaki, Basilica
of San Sebastian, Manila
Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki
October 20
Magdalene of Nagasaki
(died 1634), an Augustinian Tertiary in Japan, in spite of great danger and
difficulty, remained faithful to Jesus Christ until her martyrdom.
Born in the early
seventeenth century, Magdalene belonged to a devout Christian family. Her
parents were martyred around 1620, when Magdalene was in her teens.
It was around this time
that the first Augustinians arrived in Japan. As a committed Christian,
Magdalene made herself known to them. She served as a catechist and interpreter
for the early Augustinian missionaries.
She found their
Augustinian spirituality appealing, with its emphasis on the search for God,
interiority, and community. She asked to be accepted into the Order of Saint
Augustine, and in 1625 was formally received into the Augustinian Third Order.
Being a Christian in
Japan became more and more difficult, as the persecution became stronger.
Magdalene fled to the hills, where she worked at bringing the Word of God to
those who did not know Jesus, and strengthing the faith of those who did.
In 1632 the
Augustinians Francis
of Jesus Terrero and Vincent of Saint Anthony Simoens, who had been her
first counselors, were burned to death because of their Christian faith. This
served to make Magdalene's faith and commitment to Christ even stronger. She
located two other Augustinian Friars, Martin of Saint Nicholas Lumbreras and
Melchior of Saint Augustine Sánchez. They continued to develop her appreciation
and practice of Augustinian spirituality.
Eventually these two
Friars were also martyred. Magdalene then took as her spiritual guide Jordan of
Saint Stephen, a Dominican. Since Dominicans also follow the Rule of
Augustine, the spirit of Augustine continued to grow in her.
She considered becoming a
full-fledged Dominican sister, but continued religious persecution kept her
from doing so.
Moved by her strong
Christian conviction, Magdalene voluntarily declared herself a follower of
Jesus. She was threatened, ridiculed and tortured, but her Christian witness
was strong.
After 13 days of torture,
wearing her Augustinian habit, Magdalene was suspended upside down in a pit of
garbage. Then her body was burned and her ashes scattered. Pope John Paul II
canonized her in 1987.
SOURCE : https://www.midwestaugustinians.org/st-magdalene-of-nagasaki
St. Magdalene of
Nagasaki, O.S.A.
Magdalene was born and
grew up during a period of open and undisguised hostility toward religion.
Persecution was manifest to all. The types of "imaginative and
original" torture used by the opponents of the faith show very clearly the
hatred in the hearts of those who ruled.
Her parents, who are
described by historians as "most virtuous and noble Christians," were
martyred about the year 1620, when their daughter was in her early adolescence.
The first Augustinians who arrived in Japan in 1623 were members of the Augustinian
Order's observant movement: Fathers Francis of Jesus and Vincent of Saint
Anthony. As an active and enthusiastic Christian, Magdalene made contact with
them and though communication was difficult, she worked with them as an
interpreter and later as a catechist. From the start she found herself well
disposed to Augustinian spirituality, characterized as it is by the search for
God, interiority, and the living of faith in communion with others.
In their work of
evangelization the missionaries emphasized the promotion of religious
associations and gave special attention to the Augustinian Third Order.
However, it was quite difficult for Christians to live their faith publicly. To
approach the missionaries for doctrinal and religious nourishment was risky for
themselves as well as the friars. Following the example of many other
Christians in similar difficulties, Magdalene took refuge in the hills and
dedicated herself to baptizing converts and sustaining those who has grown weak
in their faith.
The persecution made
necessary all sorts of subterfuge, but Magdalene did not lose heart. She knew
what she wanted and did not hold back in spite of the dangers: she asked to be
accepted formally into the Augustinian Order. Her mind and heart were already
Augustinian; in 1625, Father Francis admitted her into the Third Order of Saint
Augustine.
In 1632 the Augustinian
friars, who had been her spiritual counselors, were burned alive. This
holocaust was recognized and solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1876.
Magdalene kept alive the memory of these friars, and with it grew her own
desire for martyrdom. Now her counselors in the struggle were two other
Augustinians, Fathers Melchior of Saint Augustine and Martin of Saint Nicholas,
who continued to nourish her spirit on the ideals and practices of Augustinian
spirituality. When these two friars were also put to death, she turned to
Father Jordan of Saint Stephen, a Dominican who own profession was based on the
Rule of St. Augustine.
Magdalene's concern for
her vocation and her wish to love completely the life of the evangelical
counsels led to her decision to enter a novitiate with a community of Dominican
sisters. But before she could make her profession, religious persecution broke
out once again. It was no time for the fainthearted. A strong faith burned in
her soul and the gospel allowed for no half measures.
The brave spirit and
conviction of this Augustinian tertiary moved her to go voluntarily to the
jailers and declare herself a follower of Jesus Christ. There were threats,
tortures, promises of exposure to public scorn, taunts, ridicule all the
usual procedures in such cases. But Magdalene had a clear knowledge of her
faith and of the obligation which she had freely taken on. Attired in her
Augustinian habit, she reached the end of her martyrdom on 16 October 1634,
after thirteen days of torture, suspended upside down in a pit of offal. After
death her body was burned and her ashes scattered in the bay of Nagasaki.
Three hundred and
forty-seven years later, on 18 February 1981, in the city of Manila, Pope John
Paul II honored Magdalene with the title of Blessed. Then on 18 October 1987,
World Mission Day, she was solemnly canonized in Rome by the same Holy Father.
Proclaimed with Saint Magdalene was a large number of martyrs from the Land of
the Rising Sun, of various nationalities and states of life and of different
religious orders. The life of Magdalene, martyr of Japan, honored for the
firmness and courage of her faith, is a song in praise of heroism. To live the
gospel as she did with fervent resolve, in a clear, complete, and radical way,
without failing or yielding is the heritage of great souls.
The memory of Saint
Magdalene of Nagasaki is celebrated by the Augustinian family on 20 October.
Rotelle, John, Book
of Augustinian Saints, Augustinian Press 2000
Saint Magdalene of
Nagasaki by Adriano Ambrosioni
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20070311144429/http://www.osa-west.org/stmagdalene.html
LAWRENCE RUIZ, LAYMAN, DOMINIC IBÁÑEZ DE ERQUICIA, O.P., JAMES KYUSHEI TOMONAGA, O.P., AND 13 COMPANIONS, PHILIPPINES, MARTYRS IN JAPAN
1633, (August and
October)
DOMINIC IBANEZ DE
ERQUICIA: Spanish Dominican priest, born in Regil (San Sebastian) member of the
Province of Spain at first, and afterwards of the Holy Rosary Province. Taught
at St. Tomas College (Manila) and preached in various parts of the Philippines.
In 1623 he went to Japan where he worked incognito. Denounced to the
authorities by a Christian apostate, he was subsequently imprisoned and put to
death. He played a very important role as Vicar Provincial to the missions.
Part of his letters have been conserved. Age 44.
FRANCIS SHOYEMON: Japanese,
Dominican Cooperator Brother. He was a companion of Domingo Ibanez in his
apostolate. Arrested in 1633, he received the Dominican habit while in prison.
He was killed together with this spiritual father.
JAMES KYUSHEI TOMONAGA OF
ST. MARY: Japanese, Dominican priest. Born of a noble Christian family of
Kyudetsu, he studied at the Jesuits' College at Nagasaki. He was expelled from
Japan in 1614, because he was working as a catechist. He preached in Manila and
Taiwan, but in 1632 he returned to his native land to help his fellow
Christians. He was arrested, tortured and later killed, "because he was a
religious and propagated the faith". He was 51 years, the oldest of the
group.
MICHAEL KUROBIOYE:
Japanese, lay catechist. He was a companion of Fr. James of St. Mary. When he
was imprisoned and tortured, he revealed the hiding place of Fr. James. Soon
repenting of what he had done, he joined his companion in his martyrdom,
confessing his faith.
LUCAS ALONSO OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT: Spanish, Dominican priest, born in Carracedo (Astorga) a son of the
Spanish Dominican Province, he joined the Holy Rosary Province in 1617, thus
becoming a missionary. After teaching at St. Tomas in Manila and preaching in
Cagayan, he went to Japan in 1623 and worked there, encountering great risks
and hardships for ten years. He was arrested while in Osaka (1633) and killed
in Nagasaki after being tortured. Age 39.
MATTHEW KOHIOYE OF THE
ROSARY: Japanese of Arima, Brother of the Dominican Order. Catechist and helper
of Blessed Lucas Alonso, he became a Dominican novice. He was arrested at Osaka
in 1633, endured horrible torture but remained faithful to Christ until his
death. Age 18.
1634, (October-November)
MAGDALENE OF NAGASAKI: Japanese,
Augustinian and Dominican tertiary. Daughter of a martyred Christian couple,
she consecrated herself to God. Her spiritual director was Fr. Ansalone. When
the latter was arrested, she presented herself to the guards, declaring that
she was a Christian. She was tortured in a cruel manner, but remained firm in
her faith until she was hung on the gibbet where she died after thirteen days.
MARINA OF OMURA:
Japanese, Dominican tertiary. Entered the Third Order in 1626 and was very
helpful to the missionaries. She was arrested in 1634 and submitted to shameful
humiliations, after which she was burned alive.
HYACINTH JORDAN ANSALONE:
Italian, Dominican priest. Born at S. Stefano Quisquina (Agrigento), son of the
Dominican Province of Sicily, afterwards joining the Holy Rosary Province. In
the Philippines, he worked among the poor and the sick. He went to Japan in
1632 and worked there for two years. He was arrested in 1634 and had to undergo
various tortures before dying on the gibbet. Age 36.
THOMAS HIOLI NISM OF ST.
HYACINTH: Japanese, Dominican priest. Son of martyred Christians of Hirado,
student at the Jesuits' college at Nagasaki. He emigrated to Manila in 1614
after being expelled on account of the persecution. Studied at St. Tomas College,
then became a Dominican missionary in Taiwan. He returned later to Japan, where
he preached for 5 years among great perils. He was then arrested, tortured and
put to death. Age 44.
1637, September
In 1636, the Dominicans
of Manila organized a missionary expedition with the intention of helping the
Christians in Japan. As soon as they arrived in the island of Okinawa they were
arrested and kept in prison for a year, after which they were transferred and
condemned to death by the tribunal of Nagasaki.
ANTHONY GONZALEZ:
Spanish, Dominican priest. Born in Leon (Spain), he became a Dominican in his
native country, but, moving to Manila (1631) he joined the Holy Rosary
Province. He taught at St. Tomas and later became its rector. In 1636 he led
the group of missionaries going to Japan, but was soon arrested with the rest.
He was a man of much prayer and penance. After a year he died in prison having
endured the tortures inflicted upon him by the persecutors. Age 45.
WILLIAM COURTET OR THOMAS
OF ST. DOMINIC: Born of noble parents in Serignan (France). He was a member of
the Dominican Reformed Congregation of St. Louis but then joined the Holy
Rosary Province and went to the Philippines where he taught at St. Tomas and
later went to Japan. He also ended up on the gibbet, after a year of
imprisonment, during which he endured horrible tortures. He died singing praise
to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and psalms in the midst of torture. Age 47.
MICHAEL DE AOZARAZA:
Spanish, Dominican priest. He was born in Onate (Spain) and became a member of
the Province of Spain, but later joined the Holy Rosary Province. He worked in
the mission of Bataan (Luzon - Philippines). He refused to give up his faith
and accepted with joy tremendous suffering. Age 39.
VINCENT SCHIWOZUKA OF THE
CROSS: Japanese, Dominican priest. Son of a Christian family, he was a student
at the Jesuits' College and a catechist. He was expelled from Japan in 1614. He
later became a priest in Manila and worked among the Japanese exiles. Before
returning to his native land (1636) he received the Dominican habit. After a
year of imprisonment the tortures induced him to apostatize, but he soon
returned to the faith and died as a martyr on the gibbet.
LAZARO OF KYOTO:
Japanese, layman. He contracted leprosy and was deported to the Philippines
with other lepers. In 1636 he joined Gonzalez as his guide and interpreter. Not
resisting to the tortures Lazaro apostatized for a few hours but then repented
and died for Christ together with the others.
LAWRENCE Ruiz: Filipino,
layman. Born in Binondo (Manila) of a Chinese Father and a Filipino mother, he
received his education from the Dominicans, becoming a member of the Rosary
Confraternity. He married and fathered three children. Becoming involved in
some obscure incident with bloodshed, he joined the missionary expedition in
order to escape. He was arrested and endured all kinds of tortures until his
death. He thus becomes the Protomartyr of the Philippines.
Miracle proposed for the
Canonization
Occurred in Manila in the
year 1983 through the intercession of the group in favour of Cecilia Alegria
Policarpio, child - 2 years old, cured completely of brain's paralysis without
any effective therapy. The miracle was recognized by John Paul II on 1st June,
1987.
The reason why Christians
were persecuted
"The followers of
Christ, arriving unexpectedly in Japan, not only came here carrying their
goods, but also, without any permission, have spread and propagated their
wicked law, destroying the good and legitimate one and plotting to overthrow
authority in the country. This is the beginning of great calamity, which we
should avoid by all means. Japan is a Shintoist and Buddhist country, which
venerates the gods, honours Buddha, and respects the 'way of benevolence'
(Confucius).
The followers of the
Fathers (the Christians) have all disobeyed the orders already given by the
government despising religion ... and destroying the good. They are overjoyed
when they see those about to be executed; they run after them wherever they go
and adore them ... Such is the supreme ideal of this religion. Unless it is
suppressed immediately, endless misfortunes will fall on the State. In all the
regions of Japan, all these Christians should be eliminated without any delay
... If anyone dares contravene this order, he will be put to death ......
(Extracts of the 1614
Edict, substantially alike those of 1633, 1636).
SOURCE : http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19871018_ruiz-compagni_en.html
Santa Maddalena da Nagasaki Martire
>>>
Visualizza la Scheda del Gruppo cui appartiene
Nishizaka, Giappone, 1611
– Nagasaki, Giappone, 15 ottobre 1634
Nacque nel 1611 nei
pressi di Nagasaki. Figlia di nobili cristiani martirizzati per la fede,
descritta come gracile, delicata e bella si consacrò a Dio, guidata
spiritualmente dai beati Francesco di Gesù e Vincenzo di sant'Antonio
agostiniani recolletti, che l'ammisero come terziaria. Nel frattempo la
persecuzione contro i cristiani si faceva sempre più pressante a tal punto che
nel 1629 fu costretta a nasconderti sulle montagne, aiutando i cristiani
perseguitati dove visitava i malati, battezzava i bambini, confortava le
persone maltrattate. Nel settembre del 1634 si presentò ai giudici
proclamandosi cristiana. Neppure le promesse di un vantaggioso matrimonio e le
torture piegarono la sua fede. Venne così condannata al tormento della fossa
dove sopravvisse per 13 giorni. Il suo martirio destò molta impressione.
Beatificata nel 1981 a Manila, fu canonizzata da Giovanni Paolo II il 18
ottobre 1987 a Roma. (Avvenire)
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: A Nagasaki in Giappone, santa Maddalena, vergine e martire, forte
d’animo tanto nel promuovere la fede quanto nel sopportare per tredici giorni
il supplizio della forca sotto l’imperatore Yemitsu.
Maddalena nacque nel 1611
a Nishizaka, nei pressi di Nagasaki in Giappone, figlia di nobili e ferventi
cristiani. Narrano gli antichi manoscritti che fosse una giovane gracile,
delicata e bella. I suoi genitori e fratelli furono condannati a morte per la loro
fede cattolica e martirizzati quando essa era ancora giovanissima.
Nel 1624 conobbe due
agostiniani recolletti, Francesco di Gesù e Vincenzo di Sant’Antonio, poi
anch’essi martiri e beati. Attratta dalla profonda spiritualità dei due
missionari, Maddalena si consacrò a Dio come terziaria agostiniana recolletta.
Da allora il suo abito fu quello religioso, le sue uniche occupazioni la
preghiera, la lettura di libri santi e l’apostolato. Divenne in seguito
terziaria domenicana. I tempi erano assai difficili e la persecuzione che
infuriava contro i cristiani era divenuta sempre più sistematica e crudele.
Maddalena infondeva coraggio ai cristiani, insegnava il catechismo ai
fanciulli, domandava l’elemosina ai commercianti portoghesi per i poveri.
Nel 1629 cercò rifugio
tra le montagne di Nagasaki, condividendo le sofferenze e le angosce dei suoi
concittadini perseguitati, incoraggiandoli a mantenersi forti nella fede,
riportando sulla retta via quanti, vinti dalle torture, avevano rinnegato
Cristo, visitando i malati, battezzando i bambini, portando a tutti parole e
gesti di conforto.
Di fronte alle apostasie
di parecchi cristiani terrorizzati dalle torture alle quali erano sottoposti e
desiderosa di unirsi eternamente a Cristo, Maddalena pensò di sfidare i
tiranni. Vestita con l’abito di terziaria, nel settembre 1634 si presentò ai
giudici, portando con se solamente un piccolo fagotto pieno di libri santi per
poter pregare e meditare in carcere. Neppure le promesse di un vantaggioso
matrimonio e le torture subite riuscirono a piegare la sua ferma volontà.
Ai primi di ottobre fu
allora sottoposta al tormento della forca e della fossa: sospesa per i piedi,
con la testa ed il petto sommersi in una fossa sottostante, coperta con tavole
per renderle più difficile la respirazione. La coraggiosa giovane resistette al
tormento per tredici giorni, invocando durante il supplizio i nomi di Gesù e
Maria e cantando inni al Signore. L’ultima notte un acquazzone inondò la fossa
e Maddalena morì affogata. Era il 15 ottobre 1634. I tiranni bruciarono il suo
corpo e sparsero le ceneri nel mare, onde evitare una venerazione delle sue
reliquie da parte dei cristiani.
Per procedere alla sua
elevazione agli onori degli altari Maddalena fu aggregata ad un gruppo
complessivo di sedici martiri domenicani di varie nazionalità, tutti uccisi in
terra giapponese, capeggiati da Lorenzo Ruiz, primo santo di origini filippine.
Il gruppo fu beatificato da papa Giovanni Paolo II il 18 febbraio 1981 a Manila
nelle Filippine e canonizzato a Roma dal medesimo pontefice il 18 ottobre 1987.
Mentre la commemorazione
della singola Santa Maddalena da Nagasaki ricorre nel Martyrologium Romanum in
data odierna nell’anniversario del suo martirio, la festa collettiva di questo
gruppo di martiri è fissata dal calendario liturgico al 28 settembre.
Autore: Fabio
Arduino
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90173
Saint
Magdalene of Nagasaki one of the 16 Martyrs of Japan Grand procession
of carroza
with w:saints
of the Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval -
2024 Our Lady of La Naval de Manila
51st anniversary anniversary Santo Domingo Church
photos on October 13, 2024
Santa MADDALENA DA
NAGASAKI
1611-1634
I primi missionari
agostiniani giunsero in Giappone nel 1602. Il terreno prometteva un buon
raccolto tanto che di giorno in giorno aumentavano i frutti della messe. Le
conversioni si moltiplicavano. La vita agostiniana attraeva i nativi al punto
tale che esistevano già religiosi; terziari e cinturati. Improvvisamente però
scoppiò una persecuzione che rese vane tutte le speranze.
Figlia di nobili e
ferventi cristiani, nacque nel 1611 vicino a Nagasaki. Ricordano le antiche
carte che Maddalena era una giovane gracile, delicata ma bella. Condannati a
morte per la loro fede cattolica, i suoi genitori e i fratelli furono
martirizzati quando essa era ancora giovanissima.
Nel 1624 conobbe due
agostiniani recolletti, Francesco di Gesù e Vincenzo di sant'Antonio. Attratta
dalla profonda spiritualità dei due missionari, si consacrò a Dio come
terziaria agostiniana recolletta. Da allora il suo vestito fu l’abito da
terziaria e le sue uniche occupazioni la preghiera, la lettura di libri santi,
l'apostolato. Viveva tuttavia in un'epoca drammatica poichè la persecuzione che
infuriava contro i cristiani era diventata sempre più sistematica e crudele.
Maddalena infondeva coraggio ai cristiani, insegnava il catechismo ai bambini,
chiedeva l'elemosina ai commercianti portoghesi per i poveri.
Nel 1629 cercò rifugio
nelle montagne di Nagasaki, per condividere le sofferenze e le angosce dei suoi
concittadini. Incoraggiava a mantenersi forti nella fede, riportava sulla buona
strada quanti, vinti dalle torture, avevano rinnegato Cristo, visitava i malati,
battezzava i bambini, portava a tutti una parola di conforto. Di fronte alle
apostasie dei cristiani atterriti dalle torture alle quali erano sottoposti e
desiderosa di unirsi per sempre a Cristo, Maddalena decise di sfidare i
tiranni. Vestita con l’abito di terziaria, nel settembre 1634, si presentò ai
giudici. Portava con sè un piccolo fagotto pieno di libri santi per pregare e
meditare nel carcere. Né le promesse di un vantaggioso matrimonio, né le
torture riuscirono a piegare la sua volontà. Nell'ottobre del 1634 fu
sottoposta al tormento della forca e della fossa. Sospesa per i piedi, con la
testa e il petto sommersi in una fossa, coperta con tavole per rendere più
difficile la respirazione, la coraggiosa giovane invocava durante il supplizio i
nomi di Gesù e Maria e cantava inni al Signore. Tredici giorni resistette nel
tormento. La notte del tredicesimo giorno un acquazzone inondò la fossa e
Maddalena morì affogata. I tiranni, bruciato il suo corpo, sparsero le ceneri
nel mare per evitare che i cristiani conservassero le reliquie. Beatificata nel
1981, è stata canonizzata da Giovanni Paolo II il 18 ottobre 1987. La sua
memoria liturgica ricorre il 20 ottobre.
Maddalena
HERRERA A. II, 69;
LUIS DE ]ESUS, OAR.,
Historia general de los Religiosos descalzos del Orden de San Augustin, II,
Madrid 1681,271-276;
Congregatio de Causis
Sanctorum. Nagasakien. seu Macaonen. seu Manilen. Beatificationis seu
declarationis martyrii Servorum Dei Dominici Ibade Erquicia, O.P et XVI
sociorum. Positio super introductione causae et martyrio, Roma 1979;
RODRIGO R.- MARTINEZ
CUESTA A., OAR., Beata M. de N. terciaria agustina recoleta, Salamanca 1981;
RODRIGO R., OAR., Una
martir japonesa. Santa M. da N. terciaria agustina recoleta, Roma 1987.
SOURCE : https://www.cassiciaco.it/navigazione/monachesimo/agiografia/santi/maddalena.html
Lorenzo da Manila Ruiz e
15 compagni
(1633-37)
Beatificazione:
- 18 febbraio 1981
- Papa Giovanni
Paolo II
Canonizzazione:
- 18 ottobre 1987
- Papa Giovanni
Paolo II
- Piazza San Pietro
Memoria Liturgica:
- 6 febbraio
Lorenzo Ruiz
(1600c.-1637), laico
Domenico Ibáñez de
Erquicia (1589-1633), O.P.
Giacomo Kyushei Gorobioye
Tomonaga (1582-1633), O.P.
e 13 compagni filippini,
martiri del Giappone
Se infatti siamo stati
completamente uniti a lui con una morte simile alla sua, lo saremo anche con la
sua risurrezione (Rm 6, 5)
Questo gruppo di 16
Martiri, tutti collegati a diverso titolo con l'Ordine dei Frati Predicatori
nella Provincia missionaria del S. Rosario sorta nel 1587, fu beatificato il 18
febbraio 1981. Il rito, presieduto da Giovanni Paolo II e celebrato per la prima
volta fuori Roma nella storia delle beatificazioni, ebbe luogo a Manila, città
con la quale la maggior parte dei Martiri aveva avuto relazione. In modo
particolare Lorenzo Ruiz, nativo di quel luogo e protomartire delle Filippine.
Lorenzo Ruiz, marito e padre
di tre bambini, che per primo collaborò con i padri a Manila, e condivise il
loro martirio a Nagasaki, e che ora è il primo santo filippino canonizzato.
Dei 16 Beati, 9 sono
giapponesi, 4 spagnoli, 1 italiano, 1 francese, 1 filippino. I sacerdoti domenicani
sono 9, i fratelli cooperatori 2, le terziarie 2, e 3 altri laici. Tranne
Marina di Omura e Antonio Gonzàlez, tutti morirono sulla collina detta
Nishizaka, a Nagasaki, dove già erano stati crocifissi nel 1597 i 26 Santi
protomartiri del Giappone, e avevano patito molti dei 205 Beati uccisi tra il
1617 e il 1632.
Essi sono i continuatori
di questa schiera (16331637) e con molti altri sono quasi gli epigoni del
cosiddetto "secolo cristiano" del Giappone, inaugurato dalla
predicazione di S. Francesco Saverio (1549-1650 ca.). Il periodo della loro
passione corrisponde al tempo in carica di Tokugawa Yemitsu, shógun o supremo
capo militare del Giappone: che il 28 febbraio 1633 e il 22 giugno 1636 aveva
emanato due editti per estinguere il cristianesimo in quell'impero. Erano
punibili con la sentenza capitale i missionari stranieri o autoctoni, quelli
che li ospitavano o che non erano disposti ad abiurare la fede cristiana.
Vari i supplizi con cui
venivano torturati i confessori di Cristo durante gli interrogatori presso il
tribunale di Nagasaki. Uno consisteva nell'acqua fatta trangugiare
violentemente in grande quantità e quindi fatta espellere con altrettanta
violenza, con effetto talora di far fuoriuscire il sangue dalla bocca, narici
ed orecchie. Un'altra tortura la procuravano punte acuminate di canna di bambù
o di ferro conficcate tra i polpastrelli e le unghie delle mani fin quasi a
metà dito. Quindi mano ed avambraccio venivano spinti ad urtare contro il
suolo. Il tormento più terribile e definitivo fu escogitato appunto durante
questo periodo di persecuzione ed era chiamato ana-tsurushi. Il condannato
a morte veniva appeso ad un palo con il capo rivolto in basso e con tutto il
busto dentro una fossa piena di sudiciume e rinchiusa con tavole di legno che
stringevano il corpo all'altezza della cintola. L'appeso con tale sistema era
soggetto al deflusso del sangue nel capo con difficoltà a riprendere la
circolazione; si sentiva soffocare per la mancanza di aerazione della fossa,
resa per di più nauseabonda per il sudiciume che conteneva.
In tali condizioni
penosissime il condannato poteva durare da uno a più giorni, secondo le
capacità di resistenza fisica. A volte veniva estratto dalla fossa e dalla
forca per essere istigato a rinnegare la fede cristiana e quivi rimesso in caso
di perseveranza. Sopraggiunta la morte, il cadavere era subito bruciato e le
ceneri gettate in mare nel porto di Nagasaki.
SOURCE : https://www.causesanti.va/it/santi-e-beati/martiri-in-giappone.html
Saint
Magdalene of Nagasaki, Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila
Magdalena de Nagasaki,
Santa
Mártir, Octubre 15
Fuente: Agustinos-es.org
Virgen y Mártir
Martirologio
Romano: En Nagasaki, de Japón, santa Magdalena, virgen y mártir, que, en
tiempo del emperador Yemitsu, fue fuerte de ánimo tanto en mantener la fe como
en soportar el suplicio de la horca durante trece días (1634).
Hija de nobles y
fervientes cristianos, nació en 1611 en las proximidades de la ciudad japonesa
de Nagasaki. Refieren fuentes antiguas que era una mujer hermosa y de delicada
constitución. Por su fe católica, sus padres y hermanos habían sido condenados a
muerte y martirizados cuando ella todavía era muy joven.
En 1624, conoció a dos
agustinos recoletos, los padres Francisco de Jesús y Vicente de san Antonio,
llegados al Japón unos meses antes. Atraída por la profunda espiritualidad de
ambos misioneros, se consagró a Dios como “terciaria” agustina recoleta. Desde
aquel momento, su vestido de gala fue el hábito de terciaria, y su mayor
solicitud la oración, la lectura de libros religiosos y el apostolado.
Los tiempos eran
difíciles. La persecución que arreciaba contra los cristianos era cada día más
sistemática y cruel. Magdalena enseñaba el catecismo a los niños y pedía
limosna a los comerciantes portugueses a favor de los pobres. En 1629, se
refugió con los padres Franciso y Vicente y varios centenares de cristianos en
las montañas de Nagasaki. En noviembre de aquel mismo año, fueron capturados
los dos misioneros, y ella permaneció escondida, soportando con serena alegría
sufrimientos y estrecheces. Infundía valor para mantenerse firmes en la fe,
animaba a cuantos por temor o debilidad habían renegado de Cristo, visitaba a
los enfermos, bautizaba a los recién nacidos y para todos tenía una palabra de
aliento.
En vista de los
frecuentes apostasías de cristianos aterrorizados por las torturas a que eran
sometidos y deseosa de unirse para siempre a Cristo, Magdalena decidió desafiar
a los tiranos. Vestida con su hábito de terciaria, en septiembre de 1634, se
presentó ante los jueces. Llevaba consigo un pequeño fardo llenos de libros
religiosos para rezar y leer en la cárcel. Ni las promesas de un matrimonio
ventajoso ni las torturas consiguieron doblegar su voluntad. A primeros de
octubre, fue sometida al tormento de la “forca” o “fossa”. Suspendida por los
pies, con la cabeza y el pecho introducidos en una cavidad cubierta con tablas
para hacer aún más difícil la respiración, la valiente joven invocaba durante
el martirio los nombres de Jesús y de María, y cantaba himnos al Señor.
Resistió trece días en este tormento, hasta que una noche una fuerte lluvia
inundó la fosa y la mártir se ahogó. Los verdugos quemaron su cuerpo y
esparcieron las cenizas en el mar para que los cristianos no conservaran
reliquias suyas.
Beatificada en 1981, fue
canonizada por Juan Pablo II el 18 de octubre de 1987 junto a otros 15 mártires
en Japón.
SOURCE : http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35541/magdalena-de-nagasaki-santa.html#modal
~ Martyrs of Japan
~ († 1590-1715) [1] : http://newsaints.faithweb.com/martyrs/Japan01.htm
