On occasion, and in the context of world affairs, I find myself taken by surprise, and so question myself. Having lived as long as you have, I tell myself, you must know that in some important respects, the world has changed. A case in point was when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis and I read that journalists were reported as being in a frenzy: looking for someone who could explain what a Jesuit was.
What it meant and means is, that Pope Francis is a member of the religious order known as The Society of Jesus, or Jesuits for short, or shorter still, as an appendage, (SJ) So as distinct from the life of a parish priest, he lived in community, had taken the religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and as a follower of Christ, lived, according to the Rule and Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits in 1539. And as a Jesuit, he should have remained a little known individual, since a part of the Jesuit ethos is not to seek high office within the Church. But somewhere along the way he was singled out, to serve in roles within the Church that would not normally be undertaken by a member of a religious order, and as they say, "the rest is history."
Now changing tack completely, (though there is a connection that will become apparent), in my past life I spent many Saturday mornings manning a stall on the High Street, as an active campaigner against the nuclear arms race; something that I have referenced in my poem, "Double Dealing." So knowing something of the history of the Jesuits and of the tragedies that befell Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I though that I would share this with you. It is taken from the Liturgy of the Hours, in particular the Office of Readings, in respect of Paul Miki and his Companions. It was written by a contemporary, and the events described took place in Nagasaki, in 1597..
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"The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodrigues took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God's goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: "Into your hands Lord, I entrust my life." Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.
"Our brother, Paul Miki saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his "congregation" he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his "sermon" with these words: "As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves."
"Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis' most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upwards with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.
"Anthony, hanging at Louis' side looked towards the heavens and called upon the holy names - "Jesus, Mary!" He began to sing a psalm: "Praise the Lord you children." He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism.)
"Others kept repeating: "Jesus, Mary!" Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die.
"Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, "Jesus, Mary!" And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time."
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Cormac E McCloskey
Saint Paul Miki
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