Forty-five years after St Francis Xavier evangelized much of Japan, Paul Miki, SJ and his twenty-five companions [including Pedro Bautista] were martyred (1597) in Nagasaki, Japan. They were simultaneously killed by being raised on crosses and then pierced with lances. (Rev Hugo Hoever, SOCist, PhD, “Lives of the Saints”, 1955, p63)
[San Pedro Bautista is a Spanish Franciscan who stayed in the Philippines before going to Nagasaki. (Historical Marker, San Pedro Bautista Church, Quezon City, MM) A parish church at San Francisco del Monte in Quezon City is named after him. (“The 1997 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p230]
The Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki
I would be one of the many pilgrims who come to this Hill of the Martyrs at Nagasaki, where Christians sealed their fidelity to Christ with sacrifice of their lives. They triumphed over death with an insuperable act of praise to the Lord.
In an attitude of prayer before the monument to the Martyrs, I wish to penetrate the mystery of their lives. I would that they spoke to me and the whole of the Church. I wish to hear their message, which is still alive after hundreds of years.
Like Christ, they were taken to where common criminals were put to death. Like Christ, they gave their lives so that all of us might believe in the love of the Father, in the salvific mission of the Son, in the infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit.
At Nishizaka, on 5 February 1597, twenty-six Martyrs testified to ‘the power of the Cross’. They were the first of a rich harvest of Martyrs, because many subsequently consecrated this soil with their sufferings and death. Christians died at Nagasaki, but ‘the Church in Nagasaki did not die’.
I come today to this place as a pilgrim, to thank God for the life and death of the Martyrs of Nagasaki. I thank God for the lives of all those who, wherever they be, suffer for their faith in God, for their loyalty to Christ the Savior, for their fidelity to the Church. Every epoch -- past, present, and to come -- produces shining examples of the power in Jesus Christ for edification of all.
I come to the Hill of the Martyrs today “to give testimony of the primacy of love in the world”.
Ref: Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp82-3
To Representatives of Buddhism and Shinto
Venerable friends, representatives of Buddhism and Shinto in Japan, I am very happy to welcome you today. I greet you first of all as sons of the noble and industrious people of Japan. Your country has made outstanding progress in many fields. At the same time it has remained attached to its own lifestyle, with emphasis on respect, harmony and art.
The Catholic Church expresses her esteem for your religions and for your high spiritual values, such as purity, detachment of heart, love for the beauty of nature, and benevolence and compassion for everything that lives.
It gives great joy to know you have come here to carry forward your dialogue and collaboration ... The themes you are discussing ... each from the standpoint of his own religion, are the relationship between religion and culture.
I am deeply convinced these are themes of great importance for the future of our world. Indeed, this conviction of mine is reflected in my first Encyclical Letter, “Redemptor Hominis”. Be assured, then, that I shall follow this dialogue and subsequent ones with interest and appreciation.
We are all pilgrims to the Absolute and Eternal, who alone can save and satisfy the heart of the human person. “Let us seek His will together for the good of all humanity.”
Ref: Ibid, op cit, pp83-4
Jesus teaches with authority
Jesus went to Capharnaum, the most populous town in Galilee and center of commerce. There the river Jordan empties into the Sea of Galilee. Thus, it was peculiarly suited for preaching the Gospel and exercising the infinite charity of Jesus in works of mercy. The inhabitants badly needed such charity for their riches and luxury had thoroughly corrupted them.
On the Sabbath Jesus went to teach in the synagogue. And they were astonished at his doctrine for he taught as one having authority unlike the Scribes. His words impressed them because he spoke as a Master and Lawgiver; and practised what he taught.
Every word and action expressed forgetfulness of himself, and zeal for his Father’s glory and salvation of souls. However, the Scribes openly contradicted their teaching by their lives; their whole conduct betrayed self-interest.
There was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” (Mk 1:24)
Jesus threatened him, “Speak no more and go out of the man”. The unclean spirit, tearing him and crying aloud went out of him. Everybody was amazed and exclaimed, “What is this? What is this new doctrine? For with power he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” His fame spread all over Galilee. (cf Mk 1:25-8)
What do we learn here? 1) The misery of a sinner, especially of impurity, gives the devil possession of his heart. 2) The impotence of devils against whoever seek the help of Jesus. 3) How God brings good out of evil. The rage of this unclean spirit raised the reputation of Jesus and disposed persons to accept his teaching.
The evils which God permits the devil to work in the world, he will turn to his own glory and the good of his Church. The economy of salvation puts even the devil to good use. Temptation is an opportunity to prove our worth and earn merits for salvation if we strive to overcome them. And we shall with God’s grace.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp385-7
Saturday is Our Lady’s day
For centuries Christians have given special attention to Mary on Saturdays. Theologians and ecclesiastical writers have explained some of the reasons that make this devotion particularly appropriate. Thus, St Peter Damascene writes that Saturdays commemorate the completion of God’s work of creation.
Saturday, the Sabbath of the Old Law, also anticipates the Lord’s Day, a symbol and sign of heaven. Christ, risen from the dead, is the gateway to eternal life. The Blessed Virgin is our way to Jesus; just as she was his way for coming into the world. (cf G Roschini, “The Mother of God”, Madrid) Mary, “on that day kept faith in the mystery of Christ after his death”. (cf St Thomas Aquinas, “On the Commandments”)
Whatever, we Christians need a special day to honour Our Lady and show her our love in a noteworthy way. And so, since ancient times, special Marian devotions have been held on Saturdays in churches, chapels and shrines throughout the world. Many Christians make a special effort to honour the Blessed Virgin in some distinctive manner on this day.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 4:549-50
Memorial: Our Lady of Louvain, in Belgium. This Virgin, in high veneration in that country, began to work miracles in the year 1444. — Balingham on the Calendar. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) (http://www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm)
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