February 6 is the memorial of Saint Paul Miki and the Martyrs of Nagasaki who died in 1597. All of the martyrs were canonized by Pople Pius IX in 1862. Seventeen of Saint Paul Miki's 25 companions were Franciscan tertiaries. The Rule that these lay Franciscans were living is essentially the original Rule which St. Francis gave to the lay penitents in 1221, the Rule that the Confraternity of Penitents is living as interpreted by its constitutions.

​

History of the Franciscan Order Rule

 

In 1221, Saint Francis of Assisi gave a rule of life to the laity who wished to follow his example of living a life surrendered to Christ, but to live this way as laity. This is the Rule the Confraternity of Penitents is living.

 

In 1289, the Pope put the penitents who were living the 1221 Rule directly under the Franciscans, thus making them Franciscan Tertiaries (Third Order members), but made little other changes to the Rule. This was the Rule lived by these Japanese martyrs, essentially the 1221 Rule but naming the Franciscan Order as their guardian.

 

In 1883, Pope Leo XIII simplified the 1289 Rule, giving the lay Franciscans what came to be called the Leonine Rule.

 

In 1978, Pope Paul VI approved further modifications which resulted in the Pauline Rule. This is the Rule lived today by the Order of Franciscans Secular (Secular Franciscan Order).

 

Members of the Confraternity of Penitents are living the original Rule of 1221, as updated by modern constitutions which have been approved by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend. Bishop Rhoades has canonically recognized the Confraternity of Penitents as a commended private association of the faithful. Letter of commendation is on this link.

​

Here are short biographies of the lay Japanese martyrs of Nagasaki from www.catholicsaints.info

 

Anthony Dainan

Son of a Chinese father and Japanese mother. Altar boy. Educated by the Jesuits in Nagasaki and the Franciscans in Osaka. Franciscan tertiary. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki at age 13.

 

Bonaventure of Miyako

Baptized as an infant, his mother died when he was a baby, and his step-mother sent him to be raised in a Buddhist monastery. When he was judged old enough, he was told about his background. To learn more, he visited the Franciscan convent at Kyoto. There he found a peace he had been looking for, and stayed to become a Franciscan tertiary. Catechist. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki.

 

Cosmas Takeya

Sword maker. Convert to Christianity, brought into the faith by Jesuit missionaries. Lay Franciscan tertiary. Interpreter for the missionaries. Catechist for the Franciscans. Preached in Osaka.

 

Francisco of Nagasaki

Physician. Adult convert to Catholicism by Franciscan missionaries. Even before his conversion he carried a set of rosary beads. Franciscan tertiary. Catechist and preacher. Worked with the sick, treating them for free, and bringing religious teaching to those who were interested.

 

Francis Kichi

Was baptized by a Franciscan Missionary about eight months before his death. A carpenter by trade, he lived near the monastery and worked for the missionaries. He was absent when the martyrs were seized. When he returned home he heard the news and was anxious because he alone remained. He hurried to the prison with a bottle of sake and besought the police to let him join the martyrs, but his request was not granted. When the band of martyrs was drawn away he tried to ride on the carriage also, but was forcibly pushed away. Undaunted he followed after them. On the way to Nagasaki his desire was at last realized, for he too was arrested and placed with the prisoners.

 

Gabriel de Duisco

Convert, brought to the faith by Saint Gundisalvus Garcia. Catechist. Born c.1578 at Ise, Japan

 

Joachim Sakakibara

Physician who treated the poor for free. Franciscan tertiary. Sometime cook for the Franciscan missionaries at Osaka, Japan. Catechist.

 

John Kisaka

Layman. Silk-weaver. Convert. Franciscan tertiary.

 

Leo Karasumaru

Younger brother of Saint Paul Ibaraki. Uncle of Saint Louis Ibaraki. A Buddhist bonze in his youth. Convert to Christianity, baptized by Japanese Jesuits in 1589. First Korean Franciscan tertiary. Chief catechist for the Franciscan friars, and threw himself into any task they gave him. Born in Owari, Korea

 

Louis Ibaraki

Nephew of Saint Paul Ibaraki and Saint Leo Karasumaru. Altar boy for the Franciscan missionaries. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki. Noted for maintaining his high spirits and encouraging all around him during the torture and forced march to Nagasaki. He was about 12 years old at the time of his martyrdom.

 

Matthias of Miyako

When soldiers arrived to arrest Christians during an official persecution, they were looking for another Matthias who was not there. This Matthias offered himself, both to stand for his faith and to save the other Matthias. The soldiers were happy to take him.

 

Michael Kozaki

Married lay man. Father of Saint Thomas Kozaki. Bow maker and carpenter. Already a Christian when the Franciscans started their missionary work in his area, he joined as a Secular Franciscan, and worked with them as a catechist, and as a nurse in their hospital. Helped to build convents and churches in Kyoto and Osaka.

 

Paul Ibaraki

Member of a noble samuri family. Brother of Saint Leo Karasumaru. Ran a small sake brewery to support his family. Convert, brought to the faith by Jesuit missionaries. Franciscan lay tertiary. Worked with the missionaries in Kyoto as an interpreter, catechist and lay preacher near the Franciscan convent of Our Lady of the Angels. Always charitable to those even poorer than himself.

 

Paul Suzuki

Convert, baptized by the Jesuits in 1584. Franciscan tertiary. Catechist. In charge of Saint Joseph’s hospital in Kyoto, Japan. One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki. He preached from the cross in his last minutes.

 

Peter Sukejirō

Catechist. House servant and sacristan to the Franciscan missionaries. Arrested for his faith in Kyoto while ministering to imprisoned fellow Christians.

 

Thomas Kozaki

Son of Saint Michael Kozaki. Altar boy. Helped his father with his carpentry for the Franciscan missionaries and then stayed at the convent they had built. His farewell letter to his mother, written from prison, has survived.

 

Thomas Xico aka Thomas Danki

Pharmacist with a violent disposition. Prayer and faith eventually mellowed him, and he became a kind-hearted Franciscan tertiary. When the Franciscans opened the convent of Our Lady of the Angels, Thomas moved his drug store next door to it. Catechist. Interpreter for the Franciscan missionaries.

​

​