Paulo Miki

thumb Paulo Miki (1562–5 February 1597) was a Roman Catholic Japanese Jesuit seminarian, martyr and saint, one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan. Quotes 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. I 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. The Heroic Death of St. Paul Miki & Companions: the First Japanese Martyrs [Dying crucified] At this instant I think that no one among you believes that he wants to silence the truth. I therefore declare to you that there is no better way of salvation than that followed by Christians. Since this teaches me to forgive my enemies and all those who have offended me, I willingly forgive the emperor and all those responsible for my death, and I beg them to want to educate themselves around Christian baptism. From Storia del martirio dei santi Paolo e compagni; quoted in Enrico Pepe, Martiri e santi del calendario romano, Città Nuova, Rome, 2002 p. 87 External links Category:Jesuits Category:1597 deaths Category:Catholics from Japan