Today, 22 Feb 2012, is the anniversary of death of Blessed Diego (or Didacus) Carvalho and his companions in Japan. These holy ones met their deaths in icy waters in 1624, and astounded onlookers with their heroism, courage and mutual encouragement. Until you read of holy missionary martyrs like Blessed Diego it is so easy to take access to the Sacraments for granted. 

We are fortunate that the Jesuits kept records, letters and personal accounts of the events surounding Blessed Diego’s holy life and martyrdom. From them Fr Hubert Cieslik SJ wrote up a most inspiring article. To read it, go to http://pweb.sophia.ac.jp/britto/xavier/cieslik/ciejmj09.pdf. Treat these few words as an appetizer for the main course.

Blessed Diego Carvalho was born in 1578 in Coimbra, Portugal. By the age of 16 God had captured his heart so strongly that he entered the Jesuits as a scholastic and volunteered to go to India as a missionary. Following the first part of his Jesuit initiation and studies Diego landed in Goa, India, in 1600 and was soon on his way to Macao to complete his studies and prepare for missionary life in Japan by studying the language and culture. In Macao he was ordained to the priesthood. With the groundwork laid, all Diego needed now was time in Japan to perfect his grasp of the language and to adjust to local conditions. This happened in 1609. Things were already dangerous for missionaries and the first waves of persecution that led to martyrdoms broke out in 1613.

To be a missionary priest in Japan at that time was to be constantly on the move, going from one small outpost of Christianity to another. Often the Christian communities only received a priest once a year. Late in 1614, Diego and other missionaries were deported to Macao and Diego spent a year ministering in southern Vietnam before an opportunity arose to return to Japan, which he jumped at. Since a good number of Christians had fled to northern parts of Japan to escape persecution, Diego as part of a small band of priests was sent to minister to them.

Escaping detection was the order of the day. Priests like Diego went about disguised as merchants or miners. At times they had to hide under the floor or between walls. It is one thing to get yourself past a check-point and quite another to get yourself, your vestments and your mass-kit through a check-point. Relying on God’s power and help proved successful and many stories are told about how miracles happened at check-points. Diego had the privilege of celebrating the first Mass on the island of Hokkaido. Wherever he went he spent days at a time hearing confessions. The locals were in tears of gratitude for the gift of the sacraments and Diego was constantly inspired by the way the locals approached the sacraments with fervour. He baptised those awaiting baptism and offered Mass as often as he could.

For some time the missionary work of the priests in northern Japan continued without incident because they were so far away from the Japanese centres of power. Around 1622 the local authorities started to feel the pressure to enforce the edicts of persecution in their provinces. This intensified in late 1623, causing Diego and the Christians to take of to a remote village of Orose. Spies knew where they were, and Diego and his companions were arrested in the second week of February 1624. They were taken to Mizusawa for trial, and despite torture held firm. From Mizusawa they were taken to Sendai and put in prison. Following the Japanese New Year celebrations the captives were made an example of and forced to stand naked in icy cold river water for several hours. No complaints were heard, only prayers praising God and calling upon His help and the help of His Saints. As they stood there insults were hurled at them and many requests that they forsake faith in Jesus. They held firm.

This was only the beginning. Back to prison they were sent for a day or so. On 22 February they were all marched back to the icy river, and with their clothes removed they were each bound to stakes and stood in the water up to their knees. When their captors tired on this, thet forced them to sit, so that now the icy water reached breast height. Still they praised God and reminded each other of the wonders that God had done in their lives. All the time Diego never stopped encouraging his companions and seeking the grace to persevere for each one. One by one the martyrs succumbed to the icy cold, until around midnight only Diego was left, and he too gave his life for Jesus.

So many hardships Diego endured, and yet at every step there were joys. Joys of seeing souls converted. Joys at seeing the transformative power of the Sacraments at work. Joys at witnessing God’s power to get him to the souls that needed him. We thank God for the witness of such fervent missionary love, and we seek Diego’s intercession for the conversion of the peoples among whom he ministered – particularly those of northern Japan.

Blessed Diego Carvalho and companions, pray for us.