Arguably, one of the greatest missionaries of all time is Francis Xavier. He converted many tens of thousands of people to Christianity across Japan, Goa and southern India, and Indonesia. He was a Jesuit priest with a strong zeal for the gospel and after he established the initial foundations of Christianity, other Jesuits followed and consolidated his work with schools, hospitals and academic institutions, which is the primary strength of the Jesuit order.
Frances Xavier is to Christian evangelism as James Cook is to global navigation: you seem to find their fingerprints everywhere when you travel.
He arrived in 1549 in Japan and Christianity spread like wildfire. Eventually it threatened the powers that be and came under persecution.
We are in Nagasaki and the atomic bomb Museum is very confronting, to say the least. However, what peeked my interest more was the crucifixion of 26 Jesuits on a hill in Nagasaki in 1597, less than 50 years after Francis established Christianity in Japan. It began a wave of persecutions and the official banning of Christianity in 1614 and Christianity was forced underground for the next 250 years. In total more than 250,000 Japanese Christians were martyred.
In summary dramatic spread and dramatic persecution.
Visiting the place where these Christians were martyred, for no other reason than to be made an example of, was both confronting and inspiring. The museum associated with their martyrdom is well worth a visit if you’re in Nagasaki.
Not all the 26 martyrs who were crucified on that hill that day were ethnically European. Some were Japanese converts and one was 12, another 14 and one was a 16 year-old boy. All were male.
Here is the letter of the 14-year-old boy, Thomas Kozaki, to his mother before he was crucified.
“With the help of the Lord’s grace I am writing these lines. You should not worry about me or my father [ Michael, who was crucified with his son] . I hope to see you very soon in Paradise. If you are deeply sorry for your sins, and have much devotion to the Lord at the hour of your death, and if you remember and acknowledge the many blessings of Jesus Christ in your life, you will be saved. And bear in mind that everybody in this world has to come to an end of their life and strive that you may not lose the happiness of heaven. Whatever men may impose on you, try to have patience and show much charity to everyone. I commend you to our Lord and send prayers for you and for everyone we know. Remember to have great sorrow for your sins, for this alone is important.“
What incredible maturity. How inspirational!