Blessed Thomas Tsugi

Life story

Thomas Tsuji was born in 1570 into a noble family near Omura, Japan. He was educated by the Jesuits and joined the Society in 1589. The date of his ordination is not given in the sources consulted.

After the 1614 decree expelling Catholic priests he went to Macao and stayed there four years. He then returned to Japan disguised as a merchant and quietly resumed his ministry. In 1619 he asked to be released from his religious vows; later he was readmitted after a probation of six years, though the sources do not give the exact date.

One day soldiers burst into the house where he was staying just after he had finished Mass. He admitted he was a priest and was held at Omura for about thirteen months before being sent to Nagasaki for judgement. He was burned at the stake on the hill outside Nagasaki where many martyrs had died, together with two men who had attended his last Mass. The Jesuit page gives the date as 09/07/1627, which in the month-first format used there is 7 September 1627, the date other sources give. He was beatified in 1867 with 205 other martyrs of Japan.

Works and witness

• Joined the Jesuits in 1589
• Spent four years in Macao after the 1614 expulsion decree
• Returned to Japan disguised as a merchant and served believers in secret
• Arrested just after Mass and held at Omura for about thirteen months
• Burned at the stake at Nagasaki in 1627; beatified in 1867

Saints from the same country

The 26 Martyrs of Japan, Blessed Justo Takayama, Blessed 205 Martyrs of Japan, Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki

References

• Jesuits Global, 'Blessed Thomas Tsuji' (jesuits.global/saint-blessed/blessed-thomas-tsuji/)
• Wikipedia, 'Thomas Tsugi' (7 September 1627, beatification among the 205 martyrs: cross-check)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.