205 Martyrs of Japan (10 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On September 10, we commemorate the 205 Martyrs of Japan—a vast company of priests, religious, catechists, mothers, fathers, widows, and children who surrendered their lives rather than renounce Jesus Christ. The persecution began in 1614 after the Tokugawa government decreed that Christianity must be abolished. Among the martyrs was Blessed Apollinaris Franco, a Franciscan missionary who entered the province of Ōmura despite the danger because its Christians had been left without a priest. Imprisoned for five years, he continued comforting the faithful and administering the sacraments. This account also remembers Blessed Richard of Saint Anne, Blessed Lucy de Freitas, Blessed Charles Spinola, Blessed Sebastian Kimura, Blessed Camillus Costanzo, Blessed Paul Navarro, and numerous Japanese lay Catholics. Many sheltered missionaries, assisted the persecuted Church, or remained faithful while imprisoned. The Great Martyrdom of Nagasaki in 1622 brought families and missionaries together at the place of execution. Some were beheaded, while others endured death by fire. Even young children joined their parents in calling upon the Holy Name of Jesus. Their heroic witness reveals that the Catholic faith in Japan was not sustained by missionaries alone. It survived through courageous native clergy, catechists, families, and hidden communities prepared to sacrifice everything for Christ. Blessed Martyrs of Japan, pray for us! From The Lives of the Saints by Father Alban Butler. Please like, subscribe, and share these daily stories of the saints. 00:00 The 205 Martyrs of Japan 00:15 Beatification by Pope Pius IX 00:30 Christianity outlawed under the Tokugawa government 00:53 Persecution intensifies toward the Great Martyrdom 01:02 Blessed Apollinaris Franco 01:25 Entering Ōmura to serve abandoned Christians 01:40 Five years in a brutal prison 01:48 Secretly comforting and serving the faithful 02:05 Blessed Richard’s letter from prison 02:21 Preparing joyfully for martyrdom 02:54 Prisoners taken to Nagasaki 03:16 Blessed Richard and Blessed Lucy de Freitas 03:48 Blessed Charles Spinola and Sebastian Kimura 04:26 Astronomy and missionary work in Japan 04:50 The execution site outside Nagasaki 05:13 Blessed Isabel Fernandez and young Ignatius 05:54 The prolonged martyrdom by fire 06:42 Catholic families martyred together 07:20 Blessed Camillus Costanzo 07:50 Japanese catechists and young martyrs 08:07 Blessed Paul Navarro 08:44 Eyewitness account of the 1622 martyrdoms 08:59 “Jesus, receive our souls” 09:15 Missionaries discovered aboard a Japanese ship https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #Catholic #LivesOfTheSaints #Martyrdom #205MartyrsOfJapan #CatholicSaints #CatholicFaith #NagasakiMartyrs #CatholicHistory #FrAlvin #ChristianPersecution 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Suffering & Trials