Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions Gospel: Mark 6:14–29 Saint Paul Miki and Companions: Defenders of the Christian Faith
Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Paul Miki and his companions.
The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Paul Miki and his companions were a group of Catholics executed by crucifixion on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan—a pivotal chapter in the history of Catholicism in Japan.
When Catholicism was first introduced to Japan, it flourished, with an estimated 300,000 faithful by the late 16th century. However, challenges arose from rivalry among missionary orders, geopolitical tensions between Portugal and Spain, and shifts in Japanese politics. Initially, the shogunate and imperial court supported the mission, hoping to curb the influence of Buddhist monastic orders and boost trade with Europe. By the late 1500s, however, fears of foreign encroachment grew. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, citing the threat of “foreign powers to the state” and “Christianity’s hostility toward Buddhism,” ordered the expulsion of Christians. Following the 1596 San Felipe Incident, Hideyoshi arrested 26 Catholics in January 1597: five Spanish Franciscans, one Portuguese Franciscan from India, three Japanese Jesuits, and 17 Japanese lay members of the Third Order of St. Francis (including three altar boys). They endured torture, mutilation, and public processions before being crucified and pierced with lances on a hill overlooking Nagasaki on February 5, 1597.
Persecution continued sporadically until 1614, culminating in the Great Genna Martyrdom of 1622, when 55 Catholics were killed in Nagasaki. By 1630, Catholicism went underground, surviving secretly for 250 years until missionaries rediscovered a community of “hidden Catholics” in the 19th century.
They were beatified by Pope Urban VIII on September 14, 1627,and canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 8, 1862. They are symbols of unwavering faith in East Asia.
The Gospel of St. Mark chosen for today recounts the martyrdom of John the Baptist. We know John the Baptist was the precursor of Jesus Christ, preparing a people of goodwill for Him. St. Mark tells us: John was arrested for denouncing Herod for marrying Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. At a banquet Herod hosted, Herodias’ daughter pleased him with her dancing, and she seized the opportunity to ask for John’s head. From this narrative, we see many parallels between John the Baptist and Saint Paul Miki and his companions. Together, they set an example for us.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Let us imitate John the Baptist, Saint Paul Miki, and his companions. First, seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rely on His aid, mortify the stirrings of the flesh, and live in all the graces God bestows upon us—no longer negatively affected in our faith by the ruler of this world and its messengers.
Prayer O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
根據13世紀雅各斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黃金傳說》（Golden Legend）（III.15）記載，聖女西元231年生於卡塔尼亞（Catania）的富裕貴族家庭，她為基督之故立下貞潔誓言，並拒絕了羅馬總督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示愛。昆蒂安努斯自認為可以迫使她背棄誓言嫁給他。然而，愛葛莎始終拒絕了他的求婚。當時正值德西烏斯（Decius）迫害時期，昆蒂安努斯得知愛葛莎是基督徒後，便向當局告發了她。昆蒂安努斯本人當時正是該地區的總督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以為聖雅加大（Agatha）在面對酷刑和可能的死亡時會屈服於他的要求，但愛葛莎只是通過祈禱重申了她對天主的信仰：“耶穌基督，萬有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我願成為你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上戰勝魔鬼。”為了迫使她改變心意，昆提安努斯將愛葛莎送到了妓院老闆阿芙羅狄西亞（Aphrodisia）那裡，並將她囚禁在那裡；然而，這種懲罰失敗了，愛葛莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召見聖雅加大，與她爭辯並威脅她，最終將她囚禁並施以酷刑。她被綁在刑架上，用鐵鉤撕裂，被火炬灼燒，並被鞭打。她的乳房被鉗子拔掉。傳統上：她被視為貞潔、火災與乳房疾病的主保。
根据13世纪雅各布斯·德·沃拉金（Jacobus de Voragine）所著的《黄金传说》（Golden Legend）（III.15）记载，圣女公元231年生于卡塔尼亚（Catania）的富裕贵族家庭，她为基督之故立下贞洁誓言，并拒绝了罗马总督昆蒂安努斯（Quintianus）的示爱。昆蒂安努斯自认为可以迫使她背弃誓言嫁给他。然而，阿加莎始终拒绝了他的求婚。当时正值德西乌斯（Decius）迫害时期，昆蒂安努斯得知阿加莎是基督徒后，便向当局告发了她。昆蒂安努斯本人当时正是该地区的总督。昆提安努斯（Quintianus）以为圣雅加大（Agatha）在面对酷刑和可能的死亡时会屈服于他的要求，但阿加莎只是通过祈祷重申了她对天主的信仰：“耶稣基督，万有之主，你洞悉我的心，你知道我的渴望。我愿成为你的一切。我是你的羊：求你使我配得上战胜魔鬼。”为了迫使她改变心意，昆提安努斯将阿加莎送到了妓院老板阿芙罗狄西亚（Aphrodisia）那里，并将她囚禁在那里；然而，这种惩罚失败了，阿加莎依然是一名基督徒。昆提安努斯再次召见圣雅加大，与她争辩并威胁她，最终将她囚禁并施以酷刑。她被绑在刑架上，用铁钩撕裂，被火炬灼烧，并被鞭打。她的乳房被钳子拔掉。传统上：她被视为贞洁、火灾与乳房疾病的主保。
Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr Gospel: Mark 6:7-13 Agatha: A Faithful Handmaid of Christ
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Agatha of Sicily.
According to The Golden Legend (III.15) by Jacobus de Voragine (13th century), the saint was born in 231 AD into a wealthy noble family in Catania, Sicily. For Christ, she took a vow of virginity and rejected the advances of Quintianus, the Roman governor. Believing he could force her to break her vow and marry him, Quintianus—who was the region’s governor—learned she was a Christian and denounced her during the persecution under Decius.
Quintianus thought St. Agatha would yield to torture and death, but she reaffirmed her faith in prayer: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, You know my heart and desires. I wish to be all Yours. I am Your sheep: grant me to conquer the devil.”To break her, he sent her to Aphrodisia, a brothel keeper, but she remained steadfast. Summoned again, he argued, threatened, and tortured her: bound to a rack, torn with hooks, burned with torches, scourged, and had her breasts torn off with pincers. Traditionally, she is patroness of chastity, against fire, and breast diseases.
Today’s Gospel (Mark 6:7-13) tells of Jesus sending the Twelve Apostles to preach the Kingdom. This reflects our own call: The merciful Lord calls us, as He did St. Agatha. At baptism, we were cleansed of original sin; by the Holy Spirit, freed from Satan’s slavery—for Christ, by His Passion and Resurrection, won eternal life for us. Anointed by the Spirit, we share Christ’s divine life and triple office (Priest, King, Prophet), obliging us to preach the Kingdom and witness to truth.
In testifying for Christ, we may face pressure to renounce faith, as St. Agatha did. If overwhelmed, let us ask this Virgin Martyr to intercede, that we may stand firm and witness boldly.
May the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha implore your compassion for us, O Lord, we pray, for she found Favor with you by the courage of her martyrdom and the merit of her chastity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 6:1-6 The Way Christ Handled Rejection
We often see those who, after achieving success in their careers, return to their hometowns where they grew up. Upon returning, they try to share their successful experiences with the elders and fellow villagers, hoping to help them live better lives as they have. Yet when they earnestly try to persuade the people of their hometown, the conservative elders may question their abilities—for in their eyes, these now-successful individuals, whom they have known since childhood, seem to have nothing particularly extraordinary about them.
Today, Jesus returns to Nazareth. The crowd in the synagogue of His hometown does not rejoice in all that He had done in Capernaum. Instead, they look down on Him because what He has accomplished outside Nazareth is inconsistent with the teachings they were accustomed to accept. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, did not choose to argue with them or force them to accept Him and the new vision He brought. Rather, He chose to leave, setting an example for us.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Through Baptism, we are united with our Lord Jesus Christ. When we face rejection or being looked down upon in life, let us follow the example of Jesus Christ: respect others’ choices, and always pray for them to God.
O Jesus Christ, You are truly good and merciful. Teach us to be like You, so that we may, like You, embrace all people—especially those who disagree with us. You are God, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
全属于祢 
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