Next Tuesday, 6th February, is the Memorial of St. Paul Miki (d. 1597) and his companions, the Martyrs of Japan. The first Christian apostle of Japan was St. Francis Xavier, who landed in 1549. When he left a few years later, Christians numbered almost 2000. Nearly 50 years afterwards, they were much more numerous, but the Japanese ruler incensed by this increase and by the boasting of a Spanish sea-captain, embarked on a policy of persecution. This extended according to Japanese custom to the dependents of the victims too. There were twenty-six martyrs in all in this first wave. Paul Miki was Japanese, of an aristocratic family, a Jesuit priest and a notable preacher. Two others were Jesuit lay brothers and six Franciscans, of whom four were Spanish, one Mexican and one from Bombay. The other 17 were all Japanese layfolk, except one Korean; these included catechists, interpreters, a soldier, a physician and three young boys. The martyrs had part of their left ears cut off and were displayed in various towns to terrify others. They were crucified near Nagasaki, being bound or chained to crosses on the ground. Each martyr was then dispatched by a separate executioner, who stood by the cross with a lance at the ready. After their death, their clothes and their blood were treasured. They were canonised in 1862. Other Japanese martyrs, hundreds in number, suffered in the 17th century, including St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Patron of the Philippines.
In 2016, Martin Scorsese released a film called Silence about the story of Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in 17th century Japan. Although the film is based on a fictional novel by the Japanese author Shusaku Endo, many of the events and people depicted in “Silence” are real. The film does not sugarcoat the brutal nature of this chapter of Jesuit history. It is a movie well worth watching, even if theologically problematic. You can read more about it and watch video clips and interviews here.
Siku ya Jumanne, Februari 6, ni siku ya ukumbusho wa Mtakatifu Paulo Miki (kufa 1597) na wenzake, Mafia wa Japani. Mtume wa kwanza wa Kikristo wa Japani alikuwa Mtakatifu Francis Xavier, ambaye alifika nchini mwaka wa 1549. Alipoondoka miaka michache baadaye, Wakristo walikuwa karibu elfu mbili. Karibu miaka hamsini baadaye, walikuwa wengi zaidi, lakini mtawala wa Japani, akikasirika na ongezeko hili na kwa kujigamba kwa nahodha wa bahari wa Uhispania, alianza sera ya mateso. Kulingana na desturi ya Kijapani, hilo lilihusu pia wale waliokuwa chini ya utegemezo wa wahasiriwa. Kulikuwa na wafia-imani ishirini na sita kwa jumla katika wimbi hili la kwanza. Paul Miki alikuwa Mjapani, wa familia ya kifalme, kasisi wa Kanisa la Yesu na mhubiri mashuhuri. Wawili wengine walikuwa ndugu wa kawaida wa Kanisa la Yesu na Wafransiskani sita, ambao wanne walikuwa Wahispania, mmoja Mmeksa na mmoja kutoka Bombay. Wengine 17 walikuwa Wajapani, isipokuwa mmoja wa Kikorea; hao walitia ndani waalimu wa dini, watafsiri, askari, daktari na wavulana watatu wadogo. Wafia imani walipaswa kukatwa sehemu ya sikio lao la kushoto na kuonyeshwa katika miji mbalimbali ili kuwaogopesha wengine. Walivuliwa msalabani karibu na Nagasaki, wakiwa wamefungwa au kuwekwa minyororo kwenye misalaba iliyokuwa ardhini. Kila shahidi alipelekwa na mtekelezaji tofauti, ambaye alisimama kando ya msalaba akiwa na mkuki tayari. Baada ya kifo chao, mavazi yao na damu yao zilitunzwa kuwa hazina. Walikuwa canonized katika 1862. Miongoni mwa wafia imani wa Japani wa karne ya 17 ni Mtakatifu Lorenzo Ruiz, Mlinzi wa Ufilipino. "Mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2016, Martin Scorsese alitoa filamu ya ""Silence"" kuhusu hadithi ya wamishonari wa Ureno wa Jesuit katika karne ya 17 nchini Japan." Ingawa filamu hiyo inategemea riwaya ya uwongo ya mwandishi wa Kijapani Shusaku Endo, matukio mengi na watu waliotajwa katika "Silence" ni halisi. Filamu hiyo haionyeshi waziwazi ukatili wa sura hiyo ya historia ya Wayesuiti. Ni filamu inayostahili kutazamwa, hata ikiwa ina matatizo ya kitheolojia. Unaweza kusoma zaidi juu ya hili na kutazama video na mahojiano hapa.