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Saint Paul Miki
Saint Paul Miki

Saint Paul Miki

Feast Day
Feb 06, 2013
Patronage
Japan
<p>St. Paul Miki was born into a wealthy Japanese family, and was educated by the Jesuits in Azuchi and Takatsuki.&nbsp; Being drawn to the religious life and having a deep love for Jesus, he joined the Society of Jesus.&nbsp; He became a well-known and successful preacher.&nbsp; He was responsible for gaining large numbers of converts to Catholicism.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi was fearful of the Jesuit&rsquo;s influence and intentions.&nbsp; He began to persecute Catholics to curb the growth and success of the Jesuit&rsquo;s work.&nbsp; Paul Miki was jailed along with many others.&nbsp; He and his fellow Catholics were forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki.&nbsp;&nbsp; All the while marching, he and the others sang the Te Deum, &ldquo;Thee, O God, We Praise&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p> <p>On arriving in Nagasaki, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan, Paul Miki was crucified on February 5, 1597.&nbsp; He preached his last sermon from the Cross, and it is maintained that he forgave his executioners, stating that he himself was Japanese.&nbsp; Crucified along with St. Paul Miki were Joan Soan de Goto&rsquo; and Santiago Kisai.&nbsp; They were both from the Society of Jesus.&nbsp; As well as the three mentioned, twenty-three other Clergy and laity were crucified that day.&nbsp; Pope Pius IX canonized all of them as saints of the Church in 1862.&nbsp; St. Paul Miki is the Patron saint of Japan and his Feast Day is celebrated on February 6<sup>th</sup>.&nbsp;</p> <h1><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></h1> <p>St. Paul Miki was a Japanese native, who was taught by the Jesuits.&nbsp; He was drawn to the Spiritual life, and joined the Society of Jesus.&nbsp; He became well known for being a great preacher, and was responsible for large numbers of conversions to Catholicism.&nbsp; The political figure, being concerned at the success that the Jesuit&rsquo;s were having, started persecuting Catholics.&nbsp; He was forced to march 600 miles to Nagasaki along with 25 other Clergy and Laity, the city with the largest Catholic population in Japan.&nbsp; On February 5, 1597, they were all crucified.&nbsp; His life serves as an example of how hard our forefathers had it, in trying to keep and grow the faith for us today.&nbsp; We would do well to seek St. Paul Miki&rsquo;s assistance in helping us to promote the faith to those around us.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>