Leaving His Parents…..Anthony 2

As he said those words, he loudly sang the Psalm 113 with Louis Ibaraki next to him. They intoned,"..O children, praise His holy name….."
Their voice just like the ringing of silver bells echoed throughout the Nishizaka hill.  At that time the venue for execution to villainous criminals was covered with the Lord's presence who came down from heaven.  Those observing there estimated 4000 started to praise together following them.
The big chorus,"Hallelujah" arose. The heavens appeared in the place planned to be hell by execution. Grief existed no longer.  It was filled with the joy of boys who would triumph to march to heaven as winners.  And, the inside of people there got filled with the joy.

Anthony turned his face to heaven and sang praises loudly. The boy, Anthony had a belief.  God would absolutely reward his parents.

When we, a couple, were sent to Nagasaki, we visited this Nishizaka at first and prayed.  Then, I shared Anthony with my wife. The parents of my wife didn't believe in Jesus, yet at that time.  While my wife was an only child and daughter, she got married to me and got to come to Nagasaki, the mission field directed by the Lord, not the place of her parents.  After listening to me, she said,"I feel I am able to understand a little how Anthony thought."

Anthony was aware of that.  In spite of tearing hearts of his parents apart, it's to obey God that was the greatest goodness he could do for his parents.  If he would take the cross, this martyrdom, with his being submissive to God, the Lord Himself, absolutely might give his parents precious eternal life, he believed. He was expecting not temporary earthly reconciliation but eternal heavenly reward.

Twenty-Six Crosses 2

Luis Ibaraki, the youngest 12-year old boy was among the twenty-six. He refused the request,"Be my adopted son" from Hanzaburo in Yamamoto Mura, SAga, and chose God. Arriving on the hill of Nishizaka, he asked guards there.
"Which is my cross I would be put?"
The guards indicated looking at him,"The cross you will be put is the smallest one over there." And Luis Ibaraki ran up to his cross with smile, and embraced and rubbed his cheek with the cross, and then kissed.
The executioners began their task of attaching the bodies to the crosses.  Fastening iron clamps around the neck, hands and feet,  they tied around the waist with a cord to keep the body steady. They fastened to the crosses fitly.  And they maneuvered the foot of each cross next to the hole that had already been dug and let it slip down inside.  Then, twenty-six crosses got straightened upright on the hill of Nishizaka. With twenty-six martyrs……..

Twenty-Six Crosses 1

Twenty-six holes were dug on the hill of Nishizaka, and each cross of twenty-six span-new ones was lying before each dug hole. They were cut away carefully and made elaborately. The height of cross was over two meters, and had a larger crossbar to tie both hands and a smaller one to hold legs. Each cross had five iron shackles to keep steady to the cross with one for neck, two for both wrists, and the last two for both ankles.  And there was a protruding seat for a martyr to sit in between them.

At 9:30 in the morning, twenty-six martyrs arrived on the hill of Nishizaka.  As soon as their own crosses were shown, they ran up dancing, and embraced their own crosses they were to be put on.

Farewell, Father and Son…John Goto 4

 A high-pitched voice by officials resounded.  The mandate to leave was mentioned. They started to walk toward the hill of Nishizaka, again.

Farewell, Father and Son…John Goto 3

 I grew up in a Christian family.  Now, I will be the father of three sons and totally six children. While observing how this father and son were contacting, I was moved with special impression.  They were a 19-year-old young John Goto, who was zealous to salvation to his last and the father, who sent his son to heaven with gladness, and lived himself for missionary work, and got prepared for martyrdom. Even though he had a possibility to lose his beloved son, the love between these two and their reliance and love to the Lord never collapsed. I also wish to succeed their heart toward the Lord. I had no choice to think so even as a son and as a father.

Farewell, Father and Son…John Goto 2

They were John Goto who entrusted to his father salvation of lost souls and missionary work at the hour he himself was going to martyr, and his father who accepted and answered unwaveringly. Both of them were considering about missionary work.  The father was quite content and glad to know the faith of his son, who was mentioning about salvation to lost souls before he would be martyred. The faith of his son, who had been glad with prayer and love until that moment, came out in troubles, martyrdom God gave.  It was a wonderful blessing.

Farewell, Father and Son…John Goto 1

 At that precise moment, the father of John Goto had come to bid him last farewell.
He said to his father.
"Look well to it, sir my father, there is nothing more important than salvation. I wish that you never get careless or neglect."
"My son, you're right. I never neglect. See that you have much courage and get filled with strength at this hour and die joyfully, for you die in the service of God. We will be happy to watch you're going to die. Both I and your mother are also prepared to give up our lives to Christ for the love of Our Lord, if it is necessary."

Martyrdom

First, Paul Miki ,a friar, made a confession, and then James Kisai and John Goto ( also called Joan Soan) made confession. When these two finished their confession, Priest Pasio permitted them to be formal members of the Jesuit.

Martyrdom

On the way, they had a break for a while at the hospital for leprosy in Urakami, where Father Pasio, the Jesuit, was waiting. He was there to hear confession of three members of Jesuit.

Martyrdom

Their journey which started from Kyoto would be over soon. Leaving Togitsu they spent their last night on the earth, they started to walk as soon as the day broke. They were on and on walking toward the hill of Nishizaka, the place of execution.

Martyrdom

Wednesday, February 5th, 1597, the day 26 Saints of Martyrs were supposed to be martyred was finally here.  

Last Wish 10

Last Wish 10

But twenty-six martyrs had nothing they had lost. They returned with glorious victory on the hill of Nishizaka to meet Jesus Christ Himself.

Last Wish 9

Last Wish 9

Like Pilatus who let people dominate Jesus with fear of people and purpose to keep his position,  Hanzaburo got afraid of Hideyoshi and refused wishes of martyrs to keep his own position.

Last Wish 8

Last Wish 8

Their last wishes weren't granted at all.

Last Wish 7

Last Wish 7

"But, only three of the Jesuit,Paul Miki, James Kisai, and Joan Soan, are given permission to make a cofession. A priest is to come to the hospital for leprosy in Urakami for that purpose."

Last Wish 6

Last Wish 6

"The permission to attend Mass and take Communion can't be given."

Last Wish5

Last Wish5

However, Hanzaburo, who was always afraid of reproof from Hideyoshi, countermanded the promise he did after they reached here, "We can't stay execution until Friday, February 7th. The execution would be put in effect immediately on Wednesday 5th, today."

Last Wish 4

Last Wish 4

When Paul Miki asked Hanzaburo Terazawa with these wishes in Karatsu, Hanzaburo willingly permitted. He agreed since Hanzaburo and Paul Miki were old friends.

Last Wish3

Last Wish3

"We wish to have a time we make a confession before a priest in Nagasaki" "We wish all of us would attend Mass to take Communion."

Gethemane

     It was around 11:00 at night. Togitsu was a Christian town. Escort officers were afraid if these martyrs might be grabbed, and took precautions.  Then they didn’t permit twenty-six martyrs even to get on the beach. Keeping to have their hands tied behind their back, they crouched down and spent night in uncomfortable boats.  It is considered that martyrs awaited the dawn without being able to sleep. This night became their last one on the earth. This night was certainly a Gethemane for them.

     Standing in the port of Togitsu and praying with watching the bay, I feel as if I were hearing their breathing. The 800 km journey was about to end on the next day after almost one month. It was true that their flesh got all weakened. But, they had love to the Lord Jesus and their assured hope toward heaven. Their faith in their Lord were burning not vanishing even at a frosty night.

     At dawn on the next day, February 2nd, they left for the hill of Nishizaka, where they would be martyred.  Eventually, it came the day of their triumphal parading to heaven.