Blessed Martín Lumbreras Peralta
Augustinian Recollect from Zaragoza burned alive at Nagasaki in 1632
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1598 – 1632
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 11 December
- Countries
- Spain, Japan
Life story
Martín Lumbreras Peralta was born in 1598 in Zaragoza, Spain, into an Aragonese noble family, the son of Lorenzo Lumbreras and Ana Peralta. In 1617 he joined the Augustinian Recollects at Borja, where his uncle was a friar, taking the religious name Martín of Saint Nicholas. He made his profession at Zaragoza in 1619.
In the early 1620s he sailed for the Philippines. One source says he was ordained a priest in Mexico on the way. In Manila he was novice master at the convent of Saint Nicholas for about nine years, and he also served as master of spirituality for his province.
In 1632 he left for Japan with a fellow priest, Melchior of Saint Augustine, to help the persecuted Christians, and the two reached Nagasaki that year. According to the Roman Martyrology they were seized soon after arriving and thrown into a dark cell.
On 11 December 1632 he was burned slowly at Nagasaki, together with Melchior, at about the age of 34. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 23 April 1989; his feast is 11 December.
Works and witness
- Joined the Augustinian Recollects at Borja in 1617; professed at Zaragoza in 1619
- Served as novice master in Manila for about nine years
- Reached Nagasaki in 1632 with Melchior of Saint Augustine
- Seized soon after arrival; burned slowly on 11 December 1632
- Beatified on 23 April 1989
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic.net (Spanish): 'Martín de San Nicolás y Melchor de San Agustín, beatos' (es.catholic.net, article 61647)
- Martyrologium Romanum entry, as quoted in the same Catholic.net article
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.