Blessed Pedro Vásquez
Galician Dominican missionary burned to death in Japan in 1624
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1591 – 1624
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 25 August
- Countries
- Spain, Japan
Life story
Pedro Vásquez was born in 1591 in Verín, in the province of Ourense, Spain. He joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) at the priory of Our Lady of Atocha in Madrid, then studied philosophy at Segovia and theology at Ávila. One source says he made his profession on 30 April 1609 and took the religious name Pedro of Saint Catherine.
Around 1613 he was invited to work in the Far East. He travelled by way of Mexico and reached Manila at the end of April 1615, then spent about five years in pastoral work in the Philippines, beginning in the Cagayan region. In 1621 he left Manila for Japan. Christianity was banned there, so missionaries worked in secret, serving believers around Arima, Ōmura and Nagasaki.
He was arrested in 1623 in a mountain village after having escaped capture once before. He was held in Nagasaki and moved to the prison at Ōmura on 15 June 1623. On 25 August 1624 he died by burning in Japan; sources name the place as Ōmura or Shimabara. The Roman Martyrology groups him with the Jesuit Miguel Carvalho and several others burned that year. One source adds that his remains were thrown into the sea.
In 1867 Pope Pius IX beatified him among the martyrs of Japan. His feast is kept on 25 August.
Works and witness
- Entered the Dominicans at Madrid; studied philosophy at Segovia and theology at Ávila
- Reached Manila in 1615 and worked about five years in the Philippines
- Went to Japan in 1621 and served believers during the persecution
- Arrested in 1623; burned to death on 25 August 1624
- Beatified by Pius IX in 1867
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic.net (Spanish): 'Pedro Vázquez, beato' (es.catholic.net, article 35627)
- Martyrologium Romanum entry for 25 August, as quoted in the same Catholic.net article
- Wikipedia, 'Pedro Vásquez' and 'Miguel de Carvalho' (Ōmura as place of execution: cross-check)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.