This coming week we keep the memorial of St Paul Miki and his companions. Born in the sixteenth century, he became a Jesuit and was martyred by crucifixion along with his 25 companions in Nagasaki, Japan on the 5th of February 1597. The authorities ruthlessly eliminated the Catholic church through persecution, or so they thought.

Around 250 years later foreigners were able to re-enter Japan and they found that a number of Japanese people had for centuries held on to the faith despite no priests or sacraments, including devotion to Our Blessed Mother. 

We live in a society without violent persecution, though people challenge and ridicule our beliefs in different ways. This is not true elsewhere where every day our brothers and sisters give witness to Jesus with their blood. Ask God today for the grace that, when asked or challenged, we too can and will give witness to our faith in the Lord Jesus. Let us also do our best to support our persecuted brothers and sisters.

With the assurance of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

God Bless you.

Fr Christopher