Saint James Kisai
Jesuit helper at Osaka who died among the twenty-six martyrs of Nagasaki in 1597
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Religious
- Life
- d. 1597
- Era
- 16th century
- Feast
- 6 February
- Countries
- Japan
Life story
James Kisai was born around 1533, according to the Jesuit listing of his life dates (1533 to 1597). He was educated by a Buddhist monk before he was baptised. According to the Jesuit biography, he married a woman who also became a Christian, but she later returned to Buddhism, leaving him with a son, whom he placed with a Christian family.
He moved to Osaka and worked as porter and house servant for the Jesuits. Seeing the strength of his faith, the Jesuits made him a catechist. According to the Jesuit biography, he joined the Society as a brother, probably in 1596; another source says he took his vows in prison.
In late 1596, after the San Felipe incident, he was arrested with a group of Christians that included Fr. Paul Miki and John Goto, the other two Jesuits in the group, and was imprisoned. On 5 February 1597 he was crucified and lanced on Nishizaka hill in Nagasaki. He is one of the twenty-six martyrs of Japan. He was beatified in 1627 under Pope Urban VIII and canonized by Pope Pius IX on 8 June 1862. The feast of these Japanese martyrs is 6 February.
Works and witness
- Taught by a Buddhist monk before his baptism
- Served as porter and servant for the Jesuits at Osaka
- Became a catechist and then a Jesuit brother
- Arrested in late 1596 with a group of Christians including Paul Miki
- Crucified at Nagasaki on 5 February 1597; canonized in 1862
Saints from the same country
References
- Jesuits Global, 'Saint James Kisai' (jesuits.global/saint-blessed/saint-james-kisai/)
- Franciscan Media, 'Saint Paul Miki and Companions' (franciscanmedia.org: group beatified 1627, canonized 1862)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.