February 6 | Saint Paul Miki and Companions

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories.

Today, imagine that you have to walk. Not just to school, or to the store, or even across town. Imagine you have to walk 600 miles. That is roughly the distance from New York City to Detroit, or from London to Berlin.

Now, imagine doing that walk in the dead of winter. And you aren't hiking for fun. You are a prisoner, being marched toward your own execution. Most people would be terrified. Most people would be crying, begging, or screaming in despair. But the group of 26 people walking this road in Japan in the year 1597 wasn't screaming.

They were singing. Today, we are talking about St. Paul Mickey and the 26 Martyrs of Japan. To understand how they ended up on that long, freezing road to Nagasaki, we have to go back a few years. In the 16th century, St. Francis Xavier brought the Catholic faith to the shores of Japan. It was a massive success. The message of the gospel resonated with the people, and the church grew fast, really fast. By the year 1587, there were around 200,000 Japanese Christians.

But, as we see so often in history, when the faith grows, tensions rise. The political leaders in Japan became suspicious of these foreign influences. Missionaries worked in secret. And, despite the danger, and despite the threat of persecution, the church just kept growing.

Then, in 1593, things got complicated. By the command of King Philip II of Spain, Franciscan missionaries arrived from the Philippines to preach. They were zealous and eager to evangelize, but their presence messed with the very fragile relationship between the church and the Japanese government. A Spanish ship was discovered off the coast of Japan, and it was carrying artillery, cannons, and weapons. The Japanese government saw this as a threat and decided to retaliate. The imperial minister wanted to send a message. He sentenced 26 Catholics to death by crucifixion.

The group included three native Japanese Jesuits and six foreign Franciscans. But the rest? They were lay Catholics, regular people like you and me. And perhaps most shockingly, the group included children. Before they were executed, the government wanted to make a public example of them. That is why they were forced to march 600 miles to the city of Nagasaki. They were publicly tortured along the way to scare anyone else who might be thinking of becoming a Christian.

But remember that singing we heard at the beginning? They were not deterred. Throughout that long, agonizing march, they sang the hymns of praise. Among this brave group, one man stood out. His name was Paul Meekie. Paul Miki was born in Japan in 1562. He was a convert to the faith and became a Jesuit scholastic. That means he was in training to become a Jesuit priest when he was captured. Paul was known for being an incredible evangelist. He had even helped many Buddhists convert to the faith.

When the group finally arrived in Nagasaki, the soldiers prepared the crosses. But Paul Miki didn't see a tool of execution. He saw a pulpit. He saw one last chance to tell the world about Jesus. Even while he was hanging on the cross, surrounded by crowds and soldiers, Paul Meekie preached. He was a bold witness until the very end. Listen to the words he said in his final moments. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ.

I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.

After walking 600 miles, after being tortured, after being nailed to a cross, he chose forgiveness. We, hopefully, won't have to walk 600 miles to testify to our faith. But we all face moments where people are against us. In his hardest moment, Paul said, after Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. He didn't just tolerate them, he asked God to have pity on them.

Today, if there is someone you are holding a grudge against, or someone who has treated you unfairly, try to channel a little bit of St. Paul Mickey. Pray for them. It takes a lot of strength to march 600 miles, but sometimes it takes even more strength to forgive. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.