Gospel in Art: Saints Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

Jesuit Martyrs of Japan, Miki and his Companions, 1635 anonymous artist, Chiesa del Gesù, Rome © Wikimedia Commons

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 6 February 2025
Mark 6:7-13

At that time: Jesus called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in their belts - but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, 'Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.' So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Reflection on the painting

Following the commemoration of Saint Agatha and her cruel martyrdom yesterday, we turn today to another profound display of faith under extreme human-inflicted suffering: the martyrdom of Saint Paul Miki and Companions. Saint Paul Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese family and received an excellent education under the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki. Drawn to the religious life by his deep love for Christ, he joined the Society of Jesus, becoming a renowned preacher who brought many to the Catholic faith. His eloquence led to significant growth in the Christian community, which unfortunately drew the attention of the Japanese leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Fearing the Jesuits' influence and seeking to suppress the spread of Catholicism, Hideyoshi initiated severe persecutions. Paul Miki was imprisoned along with his companions, and they were forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki-a journey during which they famously sang the Te Deum ("Thee, O God, We Praise").

Upon arriving in Nagasaki, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan, Paul Miki and his companions faced their martyrdom on 5 February 1597. Paul Miki was crucified alongside two fellow Jesuits, Joan Soan de Goto and Santiago Kisai, as well as 23 clergy and lay Catholics. From the cross, Saint Paul Miki preached his final sermon, reaffirming his faith in Christ and forgiving his executioners, declaring his pride in being both a Christian and Japanese. Canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862, Saint Paul Miki is venerated as the patron saint of Japan.

Our painting, hung in the Chiesa del Gesù, Rome is composed of three distinct levels. The top level represents glory: amidst the clouds and flanked by two angels, stand the figures of Francis Xavier, Saint Paul Miki, and two of his Jesuit companions who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. Recognised as martyrs by Rome, these companions are John Soan de Goto and James Kisai. Their presence in the heavens signifies their eternal reward and the triumph of their steadfast faith. The middle level depicts the grim realities faced by Christians during Japanese persecutions. It shows individuals burned at the stake, others beheaded, and some who lived in secrecy (symbolised by a hut) or endured exile (depicted by a galleon abandoned on a desolate shore). The bottom level presents the horrifying practice of the "tormento das covas"-where victims were suspended upside down over pits filled with excrement. To prolong their suffering, slits were made near their temples to relieve pressure, ensuring a slow and agonising death.

The gruesome tortures we reflected on yesterday with Saint Agatha and now with today's Japanese martyrs serve as a sobering reminder of the profound sacrifices made for faith. Martyrdom, both in the past and in the present, stands as a testament to extraordinary courage. As we contemplate these powerful examples, let us recall the words of Tertullian: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."Their sacrifice truly inspired generations and boosted the growth of the church.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-7-13-2025/