Saints Paul Miki (1564-1597), Juan de Goto and Diego Kisai are the first Jesuits who gave their lives to imitate the crucified Lord in Japan. Miki came from a well-to-do family near Osaka, and became a Christian when the family's conversion took place. At the age of 20 he enrolled in the Azuchi seminary, taken by the Jesuits, and two years later he entered the Society. He spoke very well and succeeded in attracting Buddhists to the Christian faith. He was only two months away from ordination when he was arrested.
St. Francis Xavier had sown Christianity in Japan since 1549. He himself converted and baptized a good number of pagans. Later, entire provinces received the faith. It is said that in 1587 there were more than two hundred thousand Christians in Japan. This growth provoked reticence in some authorities, who feared that Christianity was the first step of Spain to invade the country.
They expelled the missionaries from Japan and the persecution intensified, ending with the crucifixion near Nagasaki of the Jesuits, Franciscans and Tertiaries (26) in 1597. The Franciscan saints were Pedro Bautista, Martin De Aguirre, Francisco Blanco, Francisco de San Miguel, Spaniards, Felipe de Jesus, born in Mexico, not yet ordained, and Gonzalo Garcia. The remaining 17 martyrs were Japanese, several catechists and interpreters. From the cross, Pablo Miki pardoned his executioners and delivered a sermon inviting people to follow Christ with joy.
