Blessed Bartholomew Gutiérrez
Mexican-born Augustinian burned alive at Nagasaki in 1632
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1580 – 1632
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 3 September
- Countries
- Mexico, Japan
Life story
Bartholomew Gutiérrez Rodríguez was born on 4 September 1580 in Mexico City, the son of Alonso Gutiérrez and Ana Rodríguez. He joined the Augustinians at sixteen, made his profession on 1 June 1597 and was later ordained a priest.
In the early 1600s he sailed from Acapulco to the Philippines, where he was novice master. In 1612 he went to Japan and served as prior of an Augustinian community there. In late 1614 the missionaries were expelled and he returned to the Philippines as novice master. On 12 August 1618 he went back to Japan with Blessed Pedro de Zúñiga and worked in secret for about twelve years while priests were being hunted.
He was arrested on 10 November 1629 after being betrayed, held in Nagasaki and later in Ōmura. According to his biography he was tortured with scalding water and then sentenced to be burned alive. The sentence was carried out at Nagasaki on 3 September 1632.
In 1867 Pope Pius IX beatified him with the group of 205 Japanese martyrs led by Blessed Alfonso Navarrete. In Mexico he has an optional memorial on 2 September.
Works and witness
- Joined the Augustinians at sixteen and professed in 1597
- Served as novice master in the Philippines
- Went to Japan in 1612 and returned in 1618 after expulsion
- Arrested on 10 November 1629 and held at Nagasaki and Ōmura
- Burned alive on 3 September 1632; beatified in 1867
Saints from the same country
References
- ACI Prensa: 'Beato Bartolomé Gutiérrez Rodríguez' (aciprensa.com, santo.php?id=761)
- Wikipedia, 'Bartholomew Gutierrez' (prior at Osaka, arrest in 1629: cross-check)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.