Episode 1648: 26 Martyrs of Japan

The 26 Martyrs of Japan, also known as the "Twenty-Six Martyrs of Nagasaki," were a group of Christians who were executed for their faith in Japan during the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate. They were canonized as saints by the Catholic Church. Here is a brief biography of each:

Paul Miki (1562–1597): A Japanese Jesuit seminarian and preacher, known for his eloquence and strong faith. He was the son of a Japanese military leader.

John Goto (1572–1597): A Japanese Franciscan tertiary and a devoted catechist. He was a layman and not a priest.

James Kisai (or Santiago Kisai) (1553–1597): A Japanese Jesuit, skilled in the Japanese and Chinese languages. He was known for his charitable work.

Charles Spinola (1564–1597): An Italian Jesuit who came to Japan as a missionary. He was a skilled linguist and catechist.

Leo Karasumaru (or Layo Karasumaru) (1566–1597): A Japanese layman and a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was known for his piety.

Anthony Deynan (or Antonio Deynan) (1572–1597): A Japanese Jesuit seminarian who joined the Society of Jesus in Manila and returned to Japan as a missionary.

Francis Blanco (or Francisco Blanco) (1571–1597): A Japanese Franciscan tertiary, known for his devotion and service to the Church.

Gonsalvo Garcia (or Goncalo Garcia) (1562–1597): An Indian of Portuguese descent, he worked as a catechist and translator. He was associated with the Jesuits.

Joachim Sakakibara (1575–1597): A Japanese layman and member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was known for his fervent faith.

John Soan de Goto (1578–1597): A Japanese layman, catechist, and a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. He was dedicated to spreading Christianity.

James (or Jacob) Kisai (1575–1597): A Japanese Jesuit and a relative of James Kisai. He was a skilled linguist and was known for his humility.

Peter Baptist Blazquez (or Pedro Bautista Blázquez) (1542–1597): A Spanish Franciscan and the superior of the Franciscan mission in Japan. He was also the future provincial of the Franciscans in the Philippines.

Martin Lumbreras (or Martín Lumbreras Peralta) (1590–1632): A Spanish Dominican who would later become a martyr in Nagasaki. He was not part of the original 26 but was canonized with them.

These martyrs were crucified on February 5, 1597, at Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki, Japan. They were beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1627 and canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862. Their feast day is celebrated on February 6th.