Roman Catholic Martyrs of Japan. burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Balthasar de Torres, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A Jesuit, he was born in Grenada, Spain, and entered the Society in 1579. He worked in India, at Goa, and Macao and went to Japan in 1606. When the persecution of Christians began, Balthasar was arrested and condemned. He was burned alive in Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Michael Tozo, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A native of Japan who became a catechist and aide to Blessed Balthasar Torres. Loyal to the faith, Michael was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Paul Shinsuki, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. He became a Christian and entered the Jesuits. Among his notable students was Blessed Paul Navarro. Arrested by the Japanese officials, he was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. John Kinsako, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A novice of the Jesuits. He was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
St. Francis Pacheco, Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest and Japanese Martyr. A native of Ponte da Lima, Portugual, Pacheco entered the Society of Jesus in 1584 and was subsequently sent to Macao. There he was ordained and concentrated his efforts on missionary work on the island. He then went to Japan, the main focus of his labors. After a brief first visit, he left the islands but returned with Bishop Louis Cerquiera as vicar general to the recently constituted diocese, of which Cerquiera was head. The bishop died in 1614 and Pacheco was forced to leave Japan following the formal expulsion of all foreign clergy. Under the risk of penalty, Pacheco returned to Japan in a disguise and served for a short time before receiving appointment as episcopal administrator. He held the post briefly, as he was soon arrested and burned alive with eight other Christians at Nagasaki. Feastday: June 20
Bl. John Baptist Zola, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. He became a Jesuit and was sent to India in 1602. Four years later he entered Japan, only to be banished in 1614. Upon returning to Japan, he was arrested and burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Peter Rinshei, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A native Japanese, he entered the Jesuit college at Arima, Japan, and assisted Blessed Francis Pacheco as his catechist. Arrested by the Japanese authorities, he was imprisoned with Blessed Francis, who admitted him to the Jesuits just before Peter was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
St. Vincent Kaun, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A native of Korea, he was brought to Japan in 1591 as a prisoner of war and was subsequently converted to Christianity. Entering the Jesuits, he studied at the Jesuit seminary of Arima and worked for three decades as a catechist in both Japan and China. Seized during the persecution of the Church, he was burned alive at Nagasaki with Blessed Francis Pacheco. Feastday June 20
Bl. Michael Tozo, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A native of Japan who became a catechist and aide to Blessed Balthasar Torres. Loyal to the faith, Michael was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Paul Shinsuki, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. He became a Christian and entered the Jesuits. Among his notable students was Blessed Paul Navarro. Arrested by the Japanese officials, he was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. John Kinsako, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan, A novice of the Jesuits. He was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
St. Francis Pacheco, Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest and Japanese Martyr. A native of Ponte da Lima, Portugual, Pacheco entered the Society of Jesus in 1584 and was subsequently sent to Macao. There he was ordained and concentrated his efforts on missionary work on the island. He then went to Japan, the main focus of his labors. After a brief first visit, he left the islands but returned with Bishop Louis Cerquiera as vicar general to the recently constituted diocese, of which Cerquiera was head. The bishop died in 1614 and Pacheco was forced to leave Japan following the formal expulsion of all foreign clergy. Under the risk of penalty, Pacheco returned to Japan in a disguise and served for a short time before receiving appointment as episcopal administrator. He held the post briefly, as he was soon arrested and burned alive with eight other Christians at Nagasaki. Feastday: June 20
Bl. John Baptist Zola, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. He became a Jesuit and was sent to India in 1602. Four years later he entered Japan, only to be banished in 1614. Upon returning to Japan, he was arrested and burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
Bl. Peter Rinshei, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A native Japanese, he entered the Jesuit college at Arima, Japan, and assisted Blessed Francis Pacheco as his catechist. Arrested by the Japanese authorities, he was imprisoned with Blessed Francis, who admitted him to the Jesuits just before Peter was burned alive at Nagasaki. Feastday June 20
St. Vincent Kaun, Roman Catholic Martyr of Japan. A native of Korea, he was brought to Japan in 1591 as a prisoner of war and was subsequently converted to Christianity. Entering the Jesuits, he studied at the Jesuit seminary of Arima and worked for three decades as a catechist in both Japan and China. Seized during the persecution of the Church, he was burned alive at Nagasaki with Blessed Francis Pacheco. Feastday June 20
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