26 Christians arrive at Tokitsu Port by the boat on the cold night of February 4, in 1597 and stayed one night on the boat. At dawn on February 5, they got off the ship with a cold b ody and landed at Togitsu Port. Then they began walking the 12km path to Nishizaka, the place of martyrdom. Passed through the mountain pass, and through Michinoo, Akasako, and Urakami, and arrived at Nishizaka at 10 o’clock. And as soon they arrived, they were all crucified on the cross.      Paul Miki said from the Cross All of you who are here, please listen to me. I did not come from the Philippines, I am a Japanese by birth, and a brother of the Society of Jesus. I have committed no crime, and the only reason why I am put to death is that I have been teaching the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very happy to die for such cause, and see my death as great blessing from the Lord. At this critical time, when you can rest assured that I will not try to deceive you, I want to stress and make it unmistakably clear that man can find no way to salvation other than the Christian way. The Christian law commands that we forgive our enemies and …

26 Saints Pilgrimage route on February 0…の続きを読む

  Nakamachi Church is located near JR Nagasaki Station which was constructed for Japanese Christians in 1986. The church was dedicated to the 16 Saints of Nagasaki (St. Thomas and the 15 Martyrs) in 1988, and the monument honoring them was erected in the premise. The 16 Saints were martyred in Nagasaki from 1633 to 1637.     The 16 martyrs became Saints in 1987, since 26 Saint. Dominic Ibáñez de Erquicia Pérez de Lete, Spanish, 1633, Dominican Priest Antonio Gonzalez, Spanish, 1637, Dominican Priest Jordan Ansalone, Italian, 1634, Dominican Priest Luke of the Holy Spirit Alonso Gorda, Spanish, 1633, Dominican Priest Michael de Aozaraza, Spanish, 1637, Dominican Priest Guillaume Courtet, French, 1637, Dominican Priest Jacobo Kyushei Gorōbyōe Tomonaga de Santa María, Japanese, 1633, Dominican Priest Thomas Rokuzayemon Nishi, Japanese, 1634, Dominican Priest  Vincent Shiwozuka, Japanese, 1637, Dominican Priest Francis Shōyemon, Japanese, 1633 Matthew Kohioye, Japanese, 1633 Lorenzo Ruiz, Filipino, 1637 Marina of Omura, Japanese, 1634 Magdalene of Nagasaki, Japanese, 1634 Michael Kurobioye, Japanese, 1633 Lazarus of Kyoto, Japanese, 1637  

Nakamachi Church, in Nagasaki…の続きを読む