Inspired by his Jesuit educators, Thomas felt a calling to the priesthood and joined the Society of Jesus in 1587 or 1589, at the age of 17 or 18. His decision to enter religious life was remarkable, as it meant forsaking his noble status and samurai privileges for a life of service in a faith increasingly under scrutiny. As a Jesuit novice, Thomas trained rigorously, preparing for a ministry that would soon face unprecedented challenges as Japan’s rulers turned against Christianity.
After his formation, Thomas was ordained a priest, likely in Nagasaki before 1613, becoming one of the first native Japanese Jesuits. His ministry took him across southern Japan, particularly in the regions of Nagasaki and Hakata (modern Fukuoka). Known for his eloquent and persuasive preaching, Thomas gained widespread admiration, drawing many to the Catholic faith through his sermons and personal example. His fluency in Japanese culture and language allowed him to connect deeply with his people, unlike European Jesuits who faced linguistic and cultural barriers.
In Hakata, Thomas’s outspoken condemnation of the scandalous behavior of some Christian Japanese drew attention, leading to his transfer to another region to avoid escalating tensions. His zeal for moral reform and evangelization reflected the Jesuit mission to strengthen Catholicism in Japan, even as the political climate grew hostile under the Tokugawa Shogunate.
In 1614, the Tokugawa Shogunate issued an edict banning Christianity, ordering all Catholic priests to leave Japan. Thomas, along with approximately 80 other priests, was exiled to Macao, where he spent four years from 1614 to 1618. In Macao, he continued his spiritual formation, deepening his resolve to serve his homeland’s Christians. Driven by a longing to resume his ministry, Thomas returned to Japan in August 1618, disguised as a merchant to evade authorities.
Unlike European Jesuits, who could only minister at night due to their foreign appearance, Thomas’s Japanese heritage allowed him to move freely, adopting various disguises to continue his apostolic work. His favorite guise was that of a humble wood seller, enabling him to visit Christian homes without arousing suspicion. Sometimes dressed as a gentleman or an artisan, he celebrated Mass, administered sacraments, and offered spiritual guidance, sustaining Japan’s underground Christian community during the intensifying persecution.
The escalating persecution and the martyrdom of his Jesuit brothers weighed heavily on Thomas. In 1619, overwhelmed by the challenges and doubting his ability to match the heroic sacrifices of his peers, he experienced a moment of weakness and requested to be released from his Jesuit vows. This brief lapse, described in some sources as lasting “one dark day,” reflected the immense pressure he faced. However, Thomas quickly repented and sought readmission to the Society of Jesus.
His superiors, recognizing his sincerity, imposed a six-year probationary period, during which Thomas demonstrated extraordinary zeal, exposing himself to greater dangers to serve Christians. He was formally readmitted in 1626 and assigned to Nagasaki, where he resumed his ministry with renewed vigor, undeterred by the constant threat of arrest.
On July 21, 1626, Thomas’s ministry came to a tragic end. While staying with a devout Christian family, Louis Maki and his son John, in Nagasaki, soldiers raided the house just after Thomas had celebrated Mass. The three were arrested, and Thomas was brought before the district judge. When questioned, he boldly declared, “For many years the people of Nagasaki have seen Thomas Tsuji, a religious of the Society of Jesus, and have heard him preach the Christian message. I am he, and I am prepared to uphold with my life and to testify with my blood to the truths that I have faithfully taught.”
Imprisoned in Omura for 13 months, Thomas endured harsh conditions alongside Louis and John Maki, who were charged with harboring a priest. Despite pressure from his noble family to use their influence to secure his release, Thomas refused, choosing to remain faithful to his mission. On September 7, 1627, he was sentenced to death and burned at the stake in Nagasaki, alongside the Makis, on a hill made sacred by previous martyrs. As the flames rose, Thomas reportedly proclaimed, “Praise the Lord of all nations!” His martyrdom in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith) sealed his witness as one of Japan’s great martyrs.
Thomas Tsuji’s martyrdom inspired immediate devotion among Japan’s hidden Christians. His relics, along with those of other martyrs, were venerated in secret, sustaining the faith of underground communities. He was beatified by Pope Pius IX on July 7, 1867, as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan, a group commemorated on September 10 in the Catholic Church, though Thomas’s individual feast day is September 7.
His cult is particularly strong in Nagasaki, where he is honored as a symbol of perseverance and fidelity. As a native Japanese Jesuit, Thomas’s life bridges the cultural gap between European missionaries and Japan’s Christian community, highlighting the universal call to holiness. His disguises as a wood seller and his refusal to rely on family connections underscore his humility and commitment to Christ.
In iconography, Thomas is depicted in Jesuit robes, often with a palm of martyrdom or flames, symbolizing his death by burning. His story is preserved in Jesuit archives and hagiographic texts, such as those by the Society of Jesus and CatholicSaints.Info, and his legacy continues to inspire devotion in Japan and beyond.
O God, who strengthened Blessed Thomas Tsuji to proclaim Your Gospel and bear witness through martyrdom, grant us, through his intercession, the courage to remain steadfast in faith amidst trials. May his zeal and sacrifice inspire us to live for You alone. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
%20Virgin%20and%20Martyr.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment