The Martyrs of Japan. (Paul Miki and his Companions)
Died 1597. ~ Paul, born in Japan was the son of a Japanese army leader. He was educated at a Jesuit college and on graduation, enrolled as a Jesuit missionary in Japan. Paul and twenty-five other Catholic missionaries were all crucified under Emperor Hideyoshi’s persecution of Catholics. The twenty- six martyrs consisted of Jesuits, Franciscans and laypeople and are all remembered on this feast day as “The Martyrs of Japan”. They were canonised in 1862.