Hagiography: Modern Age Martyrs

A new age of exploration emerged by the 1500s with the discoveries of the Americas and the Asian islands. This meant not only colonization but also Christianization of what was considered savage people. In America the conversion moved much faster since the explorers arrived with armies of conquistadors that could easily subjugate the Natives. With 100 years of Columbus arriving, a good majority of Latin America had officially converted to Catholicism. The trend was the same in North America, however they arrived with Protestant pilgrim explorers, and met a little heavier resistance in Canada. Most of Asia however wanted nothing to do with Christianity and were quite brutal in the repression. This could also be because the Europeans did not send armies to back the missionaries in Asia the same way they did in the Americas. Nonetheless thousands of Jesuit priests and their Christian converts were massacred. This was a scale of martyrdom not seen the ancient days of the Roman persecutions.

By around the 1900s, most of the world had been discovered and established. Christianity continued to flourish in Europe and the Americas, while missionaries continued peacefully throughout Asia and Africa. By this point we had achieved a modern age of religious tolerance free from major religious wars (not counting the present day Middle Eastern crisis between Jews and Muslims). Persecutions of Christians had become a very rare thing by this point. Yet there were still isolated cases of political assassinations similar to the late medieval days. These martyrs of the modern age were devout Christians, who found themselves caught in a terrible political conflict. They were killed more so because of their courageous beliefs, rather then for just being Christian. Yet still the church celebrates these heroes for choosing peace over violence.   

Overseas Missionary Martyrs

Japanese Martyrs

• 
  Years: 1597-1639
• Nationality: Japan
  
• Life: The Christian Jesuits from Portugal and Spain began sending missionaries (led by Francis Xavier) into Japan after it was discovered in the mid 1500s. Unlike Latin America however the religion was repressed brutally and led to many persecutions. This was a large-scale purging of both missionaries and the followers, that had not been seen since the Roman Persecutions. While there were thousands of executions the church officially recognizes several groups that are canonized. 26 Martyrs of 1597 led by Saint Paul Miki; 205 Martyrs of 1598-1632 during the Great Genna and Great Edo Martyrdom; Augustine Recollects Martyrs of 1632; 16 Martyrs of 1633-1637; 188 Martyrs of 1603-1639. While some are recognized as saints, others have been recognized with beatification (meaning they are blessed). These martyrs are depicted in the Martin Scorsese film Silence (2016).
• Cause of Death: Fire, crucifixion
• Patronage: Japan, Religious freedom
• Symbols: Crucifixion poles, fire, pit/ropes, martyrs palm
• Feast Day: Feb 5, July 7, April 23, Sept 28
• Famous Churches:
• Oura Church (Nagasaki, Japan)- 1864- It is the oldest surviving Christian church in Japan
• Twenty Six Martyr Museum (Nagasaki, Japan)-1962- Not a church but is a museum and monument that honors these early Christian martyrs near the site of the martyrdom.

Saint Jean de Brebeuf

• 
  Years: 1593-1649
  
• Nationality: Normandy, France
• Life: He was a French Jesuit who traveled to the newly discovered America in Canda, to convert the native Americans. He began work with the Huron natives, adapting to their language and customs. The Hurons welcomed him into their society, learning from one another, even though they blamed the explorers from bringing new disease. In 1649 his Huron village was attacked by the enemy Iroquois tribe, who captured him and his companion Gabriel Lalemant. They then proceeded to torture Brebeuf beating him with clubs, burning him with hot irons, scalping, and pouring boiling water over his head. Throughout the whole ordeal he continued to pray for all his fellow Christian captives. He became a martyr with 7 other Jesuit missionaries that are referred to as the Canadian martyrs. Brebeuf is one of the most famous saints to achieve martyrdom in North America. There are many schools dedicated to him including the Preparatory schools in Indianapolis.
• Cause of Death: Torture
• Patronage: Canada, missionaries, anthropologists
• Symbols: Pyx container
• Feast Day: March 16
• Famous Churches:
• Shrine of Canadian Martyrs (Midland, Ontario)- 1925- Built near the martydom site, has many relics of Jean de Brebeuf including his bones.
• St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church (Niles, Illinois)- 1966  

Chinese Martyrs

• 
  Years: 1648-1930
  
• Nationality: China
• Life: Many Jesuit Christian missionaries were also pouring into China throughout the 1600-1700s spreading the faith. There was similar resistance that saw this new religion as a threat to their established customs and traditions. The empire began to see this as some form of western influence and waves of persecution began over the next several hundred years. In 1724 Christianity was completely banned from China by the Kangxi Emperor. The early persecutions were sporadic and mostly targeted at the missionaries at first, but eventually reached the followers. Approximately 60,000 were killed during this 300-year span. The peak crisis came during the Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 where some 30,000 Christians were killed (mostly nonviolent civilians, who were seen as supporters of Western influence). The Church had these victims venerated as the 120 Saints of China. One of the most famous of the group is the Chinese priest St. Augustine Zhao Rong.
• Cause of Death: Hanged, Sword, Fire
• Patronage: China
• Symbols: Palm branch, cross, red garments, crown, kneeling, group of people
• Feast Day: July 9
• Famous Churches:
• Shrine of Chinese Martyrs (Shanghai, China) 1871; Rebuilt in 1911-1935- The central memorial for the Chinese martyrs

Vietnamese Martyrs

• Years: 1745-1862
• 
  Nationality: Vietnam
  
• Life: During the missionary era of the 1600-1700s, many Dominicans and Jesuits traveled to Vietnam to convert their people. However similar to Japan there was widespread resistance from the Vietnamese dynasties who felt Christianity threatened their religion of Confucianism. Throughout the 17th to 19th century it is estimated that nearly 300,00 Vietnamese Christians were killed for this faith (ranging from missionaries, clergy, to the followers). It is one of the largest widespread martyrdoms in Christian history (worse then the Romans and Japanese). One of the most famous of this group was the Vietnamese priest St. Andrew Dung-Lac who was beheaded in 1839. The church had these martyrs canonized as a group of 117 saints.
• Cause of Death: Beheading, torture
• Patronage: Vietnam
• Symbols: Palm branch, crucifix, red garments, large group with Christ and Mary
• Feast Day: Nov 24
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Ha Nam Province, Vietnam)- 1877-1883- Major national shrine for the Vietnamese martyrs
• Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang (Quang Tri Province, Vietnam)- 1820 (Destroyed during perseuctins); 1886 (Destroyed in Vietnam War); 1995-2004- Basilica for Mary that also honors the 117 Vietnamese martyr saints.

Korean Martyrs

• Years: 1791-1888
• Nationality: Korea
• 
  Life: Unlike Japan and Vietnam, there weren't any major Catholic missionaries sent into Korea during the 1600s. The faith somehow migrated from China during the 1700s. By the time a first Catholic priest entered the country there were already around 4000 Christian followers. Once the Korean dynasty got word of this movement, they swiftly began to persecute it as an enemy of their state religion of Confucianism. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 Korean Christians were killed during the 1800s. It happened in five persecution waves beginning with the Sinhae persecutions in 1791, Sinya 1801, Gihae 1839, Byeongo 1846, and the largest wave in Byeongin 1866. The church later honored these martyrs by canonizing 103 and beatifying 124. Two of the most iconic Korean priest martyrs were French missionary St. Laurent Imbert, and Korean priests St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-1846) and St. Paul Chong Hasang (1795-1839).
• Cause of Death: Beheading, strangulation, torture
• Patronage: Korea
• Symbols: Palm Branch, red stole, cross, sword
• Feast Day: Sept 20
• Famous Churches:
• Seosomum Martyrs Shrine and History Museum (Seoul, Korea)- 1898- site where 41 of the canonized martyrs were executed.
• Haemi International Martyr Shrine (Seosan, Korea)- 1929- site of mass execution during the Byeongin Persecution (1866).
• Namyang Martyr Shrine (Hwaseong, Korea)- 1983

Modern Political Martyrs


Uganda Martyrs

• 
  Years: 1885-1887
  
• Nationality: Uganda
• Life: King Mwanga II of the Kingdom of Uganda considered Christianity a threat to his total authority. From 1885 to 1887 he had 22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans executed at Namugongo. These young Christians refused to renounce their faith and declare the king as a supreme god. They were then executed by spearing, beheading, and burnt to death. This martyrdom was quite similar to the Roman persecutions where Christians were slaughtered for defending their Christian faith and not worshipping a pagan religion. The church canonized all 45 in this group known as the Uganda Martyrs.
• Cause of Death: Beheading, burnt
• Patronage: Uganda,
• Symbols: Fire, Palm branch, light, bare feet, rejected crown
• Feast Day: June 3
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs (Namugongo, Uganda)- 1967- The primary basilica built at the martyrdom site, dedicated to these martyrs

Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

• Years: 1915-1917
• 
  Nationality: Armenia
  
• Life: From 1915-1917 during WWI the Ottoman Empire conducted a large scale persecution of Christians throughout Armenia, Syria, Turkey, and Greece. The primary persecution targeted Christian pockets throughout Anatolia on the eastern region in present day Armenia. Since the Ottoman Empire was a proud Muslim nation at war with Western powers, they considered Christians the enemy of the state. This became one of the largest Christian genocides in history resulting in up to 1.5 million deaths. Many were offered a chance to convert to Islam however refused and faced their death as Christian martyrs. The church later recognized the whole collective number of people who were killed during this genocide and had them canonized saints.
• Cause of Death: Shootings, beheading, mass execution
• Patronage: Armenia
• Symbols: Desert landscape, group of people, golden halo
• Feast Day: April 24
• Famous Churches:
• Holy Martyrs Church (Yerevan, Armenia)- 2015- Dedicated formally to the martyrs

Saints of the Cristero War

• Years: 1926-1929
• 
  Nationality: Mexico
  
• Life: Surprisingly this is a rare instance where Christians were martyred in Latin America, which is one of the most devout Catholic regions in the world. After the Mexican Revolution, a new military dictatorship came to power and sought to limit some of the Catholic church's authority. In 1917 new restrictions were put on the church which slowly evolved into a complete persecution under president Plutarco Elias Calles. This led to the Cristero War of 1926-1929 where many Catholic citizens rose up in resistance to this oppressive government. During this time many priests and innocent civilian Christians were murdered. The Catholic church later came to recognize these wartime executions as martyrs. 25 nonviolent Christians who were killed during the conflict were canonized as martyrs of Mexico. This famously included a 14 year old boy named St. Jose Sanchez del Rio for refusing to renounce Christ, as well as St. Miguel Pro, a Jesuit priest who was discovered secretly celebrating an Easter mass.
• Cause of Death: Shooting, mass execution
• Patronage: Mexico, Youth
• Symbols: Palm branch, crucifix, rifle, arms outstretched, youth in simple clothing, Viva Cristo Rey
• Feast Day: Nov 20
• Famous Churches:
• Santuario de los Martires Maxicanos (Guadalajara, Mexico)- 2001-2007- National shrine for these martyrs
• Santuario de San Jose Sanchez del Rio (Sahuayo, Michoacan)- 1959
• Shrine and Tomb of St. Miguel Pro (Mexico City, Mexico)- 1925

Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War

• Years: 1936-1939
• 
  Nationality: Spain
  
• Life: During the Spanish Civil War, the leftwing anarchist militias conducted mass persecutions on Christians. They targeted the Catholic Church as an ally of the right-wing nationalist force they were fighting (which would later evolve into a fascist dictatorship under Francisco Franco). This period of civilian violence is referred to as the Red Terror, and specifically targeted Spanish priests, bishops, clergy members, and parishoners. 6,832 Catholics were killed, which included over 4000 priests. The church is still currently in the process of canonizing these victims. 2,255 have been beatified while 11 have been canonized. Despite it's political annotations, the church simply wants to recognize Christians who were killed just for being Christian. Some notable cases included the 233 Martyrs of Valencia, the 51 Martyrs of Barbastro, and the 8 Martyrs of Turon.
• Cause of Death: Shooting, mass execution
• Patronage: Spain
• Symbols: Crown of martydom, martyr's palm, rosary
• Feast Day: Nov 6
• Famous Churches:
• Almudena Cathedral (Madrid, Spain)- 1883-1993- Dedicated chapel that honors the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
• Cathedral of Barbastro (Huesca, Spain)- 13th century- Chapel and relics dedicated in 1992 to the martyrs

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

• 
  Years: 1894-1941
• Nationality: Polish
  
• Life: He was a Polish Franciscan friar who had visions of Mary as a child which inspired him to establish the Army of the Immaculate order. He took advantage of mass media to spread the word of Christ throughout Warsaw and Europe. He even did missionary work in Japan and established a monastery in Nagasaki. However at the outbreak of WWII his mass publications came to a quick halt. He was safe as a Christian, however later got caught for hiding Jewish refugees. Furthermore he refused to recognize the Nazi's authority in Poland and was eventually sent to the concentration camps. While in Auschwitz he continued his priestly duties by serving all followers of Christ. His martyrdom came, when he volunteered to take the place of a Jew who was condemned to die by starvation. This act of sacrificial charity is considered one of the most famous stories of Christian martydom during the Holocaust, but also the modern era.
• Cause of Death: Starvtion
• Patronage: Prisoners, drug addicts, families, journalists, radio, people with eating disorders
• Symbols: Friar robes, Holocaust uniform, crucifix, rosary
• Feast Day: Aug 14
• Famous Churches:
• Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate (Teresin, Poland)- 1948-1954- The foundation of his Army of the Immaculate order, that was turned into a basilica in his honor. Contains many of his relics.

Saint Oscar Romero

• Years: 1917-1980 (62 years)
• Nationality: El Salvador
  
• Life: He was an archbishop of San Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War. His politics were mostly conservative leaning until he witnessed his fellow priest Rutilio Grande killed. He then became a voice for social justice, defending the poor and downtrodden. He preached for an end to violence and to defend the oppressed. Although he sought to stay out of a political dispute his public sermons eventually got him in trouble with the right-wing militias. On March 24th, 1980 he was assassinated by a paramilitary firing squad while giving a sermon in mass. This was an unusual case in the modern era of a political killing of a very devout Christian leader. He was canonized for this martyrdom for defending the Christian faith.
• Cause of Death: Shooting
• Patronage: El Salvador
• Symbols: Bishop robes, crown of martyrdom, martyrs' palm, rosary
• Feast Day: March 24
• Famous Churches:
• Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador (San Salvador, El Salvador)- 1956- Contains Romero's tomb and is considered his primary shrine.
• Chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence (San Salvador, El Salvador)- 1980-1990- The site of his martyrdom