From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

November 6th - Bl Alphonsus Navarrete, OP
=C2 (1571-1617)

Dominicans were the first missionaries to Japan, and 1530 is given as
the date of their martyrdom. However, no conclusive proof exists
regarding their names or number, and Saint Francis Xavier rightly
holds the title of apostle to this island kingdom.

Following in Xavier's footsteps came other missionaries, and, for
about 40 years, they worked with great results among the people. Then,
in the closing years of the century, persecution flared, and the blood
of martyrs cried out with a louder voice than that of the preachers.

The first Dominican to die in the great persecution was Alphonsus
Navarrete. When Alphonsus was very young, he gave up his inheritance
to enter the Dominican Order in Valladolid and, after he had completed
his studies, was sent to the Philippine missions. The great
persecution had just begun in Japan. The year before Alphonsus left
Spain, a group of 26 Christians, including many Franciscans and three
Japanese Jesuits, were crucified in Nagasaki.

Despite the dangers, the Dominicans, who had been excluded from Japan
for several years, yearned to go into the perilous mission field.
Alphonsus in particular, after a trip to Europe to recruit
missionaries in 1610, begged to be allowed to go to Japan. In the
following year his offer was accepted and he was sent as superior of
the missionary band. During the short interval of peace, they began
their work, and, during six years of growing danger, they instructed
the people and prepared them for the dreadful days to come.

The missionary career of Alphonsus was brief, and it was always
overshadowed by the threat of death that beset the Christians in that
unhappy country. However, in the few years of his apostolate, his accomplishment was immeasurable. Like his Divine Master, he went about
teaching and baptizing the people. He is called the =E2=80=9CVincent de Pau=
l
of Japan,=E2=80=9D because it was he who first began the tremendous task of caring for the abandoned babies there. He anticipated the work of the
Holy Childhood Society by gathering up the homeless waifs and
providing for their support from money he begged of wealthy Spaniards.

The warning bell of the great persecution was sounded with the
martyrdom in Omura of two priests, a Franciscan and a Jesuit. Alphonus Navarrete and his Augustinian companion Ferdinand went to Omura with
the intention of rescuing the relics of the martyrs and consoling the Christians. They were captured on the way, and with a young native
catechist, were beheaded. Their bodies were thrown into the sea.

Five years later, on the hill of the holy martyrs of Nagasaki, more
than 50 Christians sealed their faith with their blood. Some of the
martyrs were beheaded, some were burned at the stake. In the group
were nine Jesuits, including the famous Father Charles Spinola, SJ,
nine Franciscans, and nine Dominicans, among whom were the Blesseds
Alphonsus de Mena, Angelo Orsucci, and Hyacinth Orphanel. Louis
Bertrand, a nephew of the saint of that same name, perished in the
same persecution.

Thousands of Japanese Christians, from tiny children to old
grandparents, died amid terrible torments in the profession of their
faith. The anger of the persecutors was turned against all priests,
brothers, and catechists, tertiaries, and Rosarians, and they made
fearful attempts to stamp out all traces of the hated religion in the
country. Pope Pius IX, in 1867, solemnly beatified 205 of the martyrs,
among whom were 59 Dominicans of the first and third orders and 58
members of the Rosary Confraternity. Although all did not die at the
same time nor place, they are listed under the name of Alphonsus
Navarrete, who was the first to die.
--By Matthew


Bible Quote:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there
are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties
of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6 )=C2 =C2 RSVCE

<><><><>
Prayer
O God, in the triumph of blessed Alphonsus and his companions You give
us joy. We pray You, to grant us through their merits and
intercession, a like steadfastness in faith and fruitfulness in work.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns forever!

<><><><>
Meditation for troubled times:

You should not dwell too much on the mistakes, faults, and failures of
the past. Be done with shame and remorse and contempt for yourself.
With God's help, develop a new self-respect. Unless you respect
yourself, others will not respect you. You ran a race, you stumbled
and fell, you have risen again, and now you press on toward the goal
of a better life. Do not stay to examine the spot where you fell, only
feel sorry for the delay, the shortsightedness that prevented you from
seeing the real goal sooner.
=C2 =C2 I pray that I may not look back. I pray that I may keep pickin=
g
myself up and making a fresh
start each day.

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* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)