Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Antony Ixida (1632)
Captured while Caring
Antony, born in Japan in 1569, was educated by missionaries and became a Christian. He was ordained a priest and played an important role in bringing back those who had left the faith, as well as making new converts, following persecution in 1597. When further persecution broke out in 1614, Antony worked among the victims in the province of Arima until 1629.
Antony was captured while visiting a sick person in Nagasaki. He was brought before the governor and treated with some respect whilst he explained the Christian faith. The governor was moved by his words and wanted to release him, but did not have the authority to do so. Instead, Antony was sent to prison in Omura for two years. After this he was sent back to Nagasaki where he and others were tortured in an attempt to make them abandon their faith. They endured this ordeal for 33 days before being burnt to death in September 1632.
He who is filled with love is filled with God himself.
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)