26 Saints were the first martyrs in Japan in 1597

A group of 26 Christians was arrested in Kyoto, consisting of 20 Japanese, four Spaniards,

one Mexican, and one Portuguese. They were forced to walk barefoot to Nagasaki,

a journey that lasted about a month. On February 5, 1597, all 26 arrived at Nishizaka,

where they were tied to crosses and martyred.

Speaking from the Cross, Paul Miki said:

To all of you who are here, please listen to me. I did not come from the Philippines;

I am Japanese by birth, and a brother of the Society of Jesus.

I have committed no crime. The only reason I am being put to death is that I have

taught the doctrine of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I am truly happy to die for such a cause,

and I see my death as a great blessing from the Lord.

In these final moments, when you can be certain that I would not try to deceive you,

I want to emphasize and make it unmistakably clear: there is no path to salvation

other than the Christian way. The Christian law commands that we forgive our

enemies and those who have wronged us. Therefore, I declare here that I forgive

Taikosama (Hideyoshi).

My only wish is that all the Japanese people would become Christians.”

(From Luis Frois’s Martyrs Records, 1597)