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Description
St. Paul Miki icon
© Cecilia Lawrence
June 28th, 2018
4.5 x 6 inches
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

“I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;
insofar as I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God
who has loved me and given himself up for me.”
~ Galatians 2:20

“The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. Believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. 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.”
~ St. Paul Miki

I was commissioned to make this icon of St. Paul Miki for inclusion in Sophia Institute ’s family catechesis program called Family of Faith . I have depicted St. Paul Miki in the sixteenth-century Jesuit habit (minus the cloak), holding a palm branch in one hand (symbolizing the martyr’s victory) and a small cross in the other (symbolizing his own method of martyrdom, as well as the Christian faith) as well as a Rosary on his belt. In the crook of his right arm he holds a Japanese yari spear (two of which killed him while he was hanging on the cross).

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Paul Miki (c. 1562 A.D. – February 6th 1597 A.D.), was born into a wealthy family of the Japanese nobility near Osaka, Japan. He was educated near Osaka by the Jesuit priests that came to Japan after St. Francis Xavier’s arrival around 1549. The Jesuit missionaries had made many converts, and by the end of the sixteenth century there were about 300,000 Japanese Christians in Japan. Paul Miki joined the Society of Jesus himself and began studying for the priesthood. He was a successful and powerful preacher, and had just completed his priestly studies (but before he was ordained) when a violent persecution of the Church in Japan broke out. Castilian religious (both Dominican and Franciscans) had come from the Philippines to join the Jesuits in their missionary work in Japan.

On October 19th 1596, the Spanish ship San Felipe was sailing from Manila in the Philippines to Acapulco, Mexico, when it was shipwrecked on the coast of Japan after being hit by several storms. The local samurai Chōsokabe Motochika forcibly confiscated the ships goods, and when the Spanish protested, they went to the de facto ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi to protest. While the goods were being taken to Kyoto, the Spanish pilot was asked by the daimyō Mashita Nagamori about where they were from and how they had come to Japan. The pilot replied by showing him a large map of Spain’s colonial empire and how Christian missionaries helped to convert the local populations. Nagamori at once sent word of this conversation to Hideyoshi, who was enraged upon hearing it, believing that the Spanish were planning on conquering Japan. Being deeply suspicious of foreigners and of especially Western influence, the brutal daimyō warlord Hideyoshi began a fierce persecution of Christianity. Christians were suddenly reduced to extreme poverty when their goods and possessions were confiscated, their houses and churches burned, and many more were imprisoned and tortured. Many, including many of the Jesuit missionaries, were forced into hiding or were forcibly expelled from the country.

Paul Miki, along with twenty-five other Catholics were imprisoned on December 8th 1596. With him were the Spanish Franciscans: Martin of the Ascension, Pedro Bautista, Philip of Jesus (the first Mexican martyr), Francisco Blanco, Francisco of Saint Michael, Gonsalvo Garcia (the first Indian martyr); along with the Japanese Franciscan Third Order Franciscans: Antony Dainan (age 13), Bonaventure of Miyako, Cosmas Takeya, Francisco of Nagasaki, Francis Kichi, Gabriel de Duisco (19), Joachim Sakakibara, John Kisaka, Leo Karasumaru, Louis Ibaraki (age 10), Matthias of Miyako, Michael Kozaki, Paul Ibaraki, Paul Suzuki, Pedro Sukejiroo, Thomas Kozaki (aged 15), Thomas Xico; and the other two Japanese Jesuits: James Kisai, and John Soan de Goto. They were all kept in prison under January 3rd, when—as a form of public humiliation and shame—their left ears were cut off. Then the 26 Catholics were paraded through the streets of Kyoto as traitors, and then forcibly marched hundreds of miles to Nagasaki, which they reached on February 5th 1597, all the while singing the Te Deum.

On Nishizaka Hill, they were crucified all in a row. The charge was read to the large crowd that had gathered to see the execution, and the edict proclaimed that these foreigners were being killed as traitors because they had planned to overthrow the government and destroy Japan’s traditions. Paul Miki at once began to preach a sermon disputing this claim, proclaiming himself to be a native-born Japanese who was being killed—not for treachery—but because he was a Christian. The martyrs began singing hymns, and praying aloud, and Paul Miki delivered a sermon from his cross. Then one by one, the executioners stood by and stabbed each martyr with two spears, quickly killing them. At once the Japanese Christians rushed forward to sop up the blood of the martyrs and tore pieces from their clothing as relics. The executions were supposed to deter the spread of Christianity, but instead, it began to spread more and more vigorously throughout Japan.

St. Paul Miki and the other martyrs of Nagasaki were beatified by Pope Urban VIII on September 14th 1627, and were later canonized on June 8th 1862 by Pope Pius IX. The Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan (also known as Ōura Church) was built in 1864 in Nagasaki to commemorate the martyrs there. Another monument dedicated to them was built 1962 on Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki where the martyrs were executed.

“The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behavior was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.” Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.

Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his “congregation” he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his “sermon” with these words: “As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.”

Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis’ most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.

Anthony, hanging at Louis’ side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names – “Jesus, Mary!” He began to sing a psalm: “Praise the Lord, you children!” (He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism).

Others kept repeating “Jesus, Mary!” Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die.

Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, “Jesus, Mary!” And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time.”
~ from an account of the martyrdom by a contemporary writer

The Feast of St. Paul Miki is celebrated on February 6th.

St. Paul Miki is the patron saint of Japan.

O God, strength of all the Saints,
who through the Cross were pleased to call
the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Description
St. Paul Miki icon
© Cecilia Lawrence
June 28th, 2018
4.5 x 6 inches
Ink, watercolor, gold leaf

“I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;
insofar as I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God
who has loved me and given himself up for me.”
~ Galatians 2:20

“The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. Believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. 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.”
~ St. Paul Miki

I was commissioned to make this icon of St. Paul Miki for inclusion in Sophia Institute ’s family catechesis program called Family of Faith . I have depicted St. Paul Miki in the sixteenth-century Jesuit habit (minus the cloak), holding a palm branch in one hand (symbolizing the martyr’s victory) and a small cross in the other (symbolizing his own method of martyrdom, as well as the Christian faith) as well as a Rosary on his belt. In the crook of his right arm he holds a Japanese yari spear (two of which killed him while he was hanging on the cross).

:+: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE SAINT :+:

Saint Paul Miki (c. 1562 A.D. – February 6th 1597 A.D.), was born into a wealthy family of the Japanese nobility near Osaka, Japan. He was educated near Osaka by the Jesuit priests that came to Japan after St. Francis Xavier’s arrival around 1549. The Jesuit missionaries had made many converts, and by the end of the sixteenth century there were about 300,000 Japanese Christians in Japan. Paul Miki joined the Society of Jesus himself and began studying for the priesthood. He was a successful and powerful preacher, and had just completed his priestly studies (but before he was ordained) when a violent persecution of the Church in Japan broke out. Castilian religious (both Dominican and Franciscans) had come from the Philippines to join the Jesuits in their missionary work in Japan.

On October 19th 1596, the Spanish ship San Felipe was sailing from Manila in the Philippines to Acapulco, Mexico, when it was shipwrecked on the coast of Japan after being hit by several storms. The local samurai Chōsokabe Motochika forcibly confiscated the ships goods, and when the Spanish protested, they went to the de facto ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi to protest. While the goods were being taken to Kyoto, the Spanish pilot was asked by the daimyō Mashita Nagamori about where they were from and how they had come to Japan. The pilot replied by showing him a large map of Spain’s colonial empire and how Christian missionaries helped to convert the local populations. Nagamori at once sent word of this conversation to Hideyoshi, who was enraged upon hearing it, believing that the Spanish were planning on conquering Japan. Being deeply suspicious of foreigners and of especially Western influence, the brutal daimyō warlord Hideyoshi began a fierce persecution of Christianity. Christians were suddenly reduced to extreme poverty when their goods and possessions were confiscated, their houses and churches burned, and many more were imprisoned and tortured. Many, including many of the Jesuit missionaries, were forced into hiding or were forcibly expelled from the country.

Paul Miki, along with twenty-five other Catholics were imprisoned on December 8th 1596. With him were the Spanish Franciscans: Martin of the Ascension, Pedro Bautista, Philip of Jesus (the first Mexican martyr), Francisco Blanco, Francisco of Saint Michael, Gonsalvo Garcia (the first Indian martyr); along with the Japanese Franciscan Third Order Franciscans: Antony Dainan (age 13), Bonaventure of Miyako, Cosmas Takeya, Francisco of Nagasaki, Francis Kichi, Gabriel de Duisco (19), Joachim Sakakibara, John Kisaka, Leo Karasumaru, Louis Ibaraki (age 10), Matthias of Miyako, Michael Kozaki, Paul Ibaraki, Paul Suzuki, Pedro Sukejiroo, Thomas Kozaki (aged 15), Thomas Xico; and the other two Japanese Jesuits: James Kisai, and John Soan de Goto. They were all kept in prison under January 3rd, when—as a form of public humiliation and shame—their left ears were cut off. Then the 26 Catholics were paraded through the streets of Kyoto as traitors, and then forcibly marched hundreds of miles to Nagasaki, which they reached on February 5th 1597, all the while singing the Te Deum.

On Nishizaka Hill, they were crucified all in a row. The charge was read to the large crowd that had gathered to see the execution, and the edict proclaimed that these foreigners were being killed as traitors because they had planned to overthrow the government and destroy Japan’s traditions. Paul Miki at once began to preach a sermon disputing this claim, proclaiming himself to be a native-born Japanese who was being killed—not for treachery—but because he was a Christian. The martyrs began singing hymns, and praying aloud, and Paul Miki delivered a sermon from his cross. Then one by one, the executioners stood by and stabbed each martyr with two spears, quickly killing them. At once the Japanese Christians rushed forward to sop up the blood of the martyrs and tore pieces from their clothing as relics. The executions were supposed to deter the spread of Christianity, but instead, it began to spread more and more vigorously throughout Japan.

St. Paul Miki and the other martyrs of Nagasaki were beatified by Pope Urban VIII on September 14th 1627, and were later canonized on June 8th 1862 by Pope Pius IX. The Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan (also known as Ōura Church) was built in 1864 in Nagasaki to commemorate the martyrs there. Another monument dedicated to them was built 1962 on Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki where the martyrs were executed.

“The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behavior was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.” Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.

Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his “congregation” he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his “sermon” with these words: “As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.”

Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis’ most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.

Anthony, hanging at Louis’ side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names – “Jesus, Mary!” He began to sing a psalm: “Praise the Lord, you children!” (He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism).

Others kept repeating “Jesus, Mary!” Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die.

Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, “Jesus, Mary!” And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time.”
~ from an account of the martyrdom by a contemporary writer

The Feast of St. Paul Miki is celebrated on February 6th.

St. Paul Miki is the patron saint of Japan.

O God, strength of all the Saints,
who through the Cross were pleased to call
the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
grant, we pray, that by their intercession
we may hold with courage even until death
to the faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.