Saint Paul Miki was the son of a wealthy family in Tounucumada, Japan. He was educated by the Jesuits (with Christianity having been introduced to Japan by the legendary Jesuit missionary - St Francis Xavier, himself) and later joined the congregation in 1580. He was a gifted preacher, noted to have given a brilliant homily to the onlookers minutes before his execution. During the Christian persecution under Hideyoshi, a ruthless government official, St Paul Miki - together with 25 other Catholics (including children) were tied with chains around their necks, crucified, and killed with spears. They died almost instantly in 1597. They were all beatified in 1627 and finally canonized as the Martyrs of Japan in the year 1862.
On this particular occasion we remember and draw inspiration from the lives of the Christians who were persecuted in times gone by. But we also especially remember those that continue to be persecuted for their faith in present times - in many different parts of the world. And even in our own lives, many of us (not excluding myself) experience ridicule and hostility in many different forms because we choose to proclaim and live the Truth and witness to our Faith.
We pray for more strength. And as St Paul Miki himself concluded his pre-execution homily: May the blood of the Martyrs "fall on us like fruitful rain." May it obtain for us the grace to keep on.
St Paul Miki and companions, please pray for us!
In keeping with the day's celebration, lunch for us consisted of Japanese-style dish - SUSHI - which was actually our first attempt at making the dish. We used tinned tuna (not brave enough to try raw fish), avocado and cucumber with our normal rice sprinkled with rice wine vinegar and sushi su (bottled) wrapped in roasted seaweed sheets (sushi nori). Both hubby and I quite liked it, Christopher liked the filling, Theresa tried it, but dry retched as soon as she tasted the seaweed, and Joseph and Marcellina opted for something else altogether. (I guess we won't be making sushi again in a hurry! :D)
