474 B. LUCY DE PREITAS in a list of 205 martyrs, oommemorated Sept. 12, is B. Lncia de Freitas, a native of Japan. Sho spent ber life in devotion and active benevolence ; sbe visited the sick in the hospitals and her charity was open-banded to all who were in need, especially Christians. It was perhaps after her husband's death that sbe took tbe 3rd Order of St. Francis. She thence- forward led a celestial life, and in time of persecution, her bouse was open to all missionaries^priests, and religious persons. One of those who enjoyed her hospitality was Father Bichard of St. Anne. It came to her knowledge that one of the Christians, John Feizo, was going to abandon the faith. She went to him and upbraided him. This made him so angry that he threatened to kill her; whereupon she drew a scimitar from one of the attendants and presented it to him, saying, " Strike ! " When con- demned to death, sbe took out her crucifix and said, *^ Willingly will I die for my God." She was imprisoned in her own bouse for a year. At last the time was fixed for the great martyrdom. Lucy, who was now eighty years old, was one of the happy band of thirty-three confessors of Nanga- saki, among whom were also Father Charles Spinola and Father Eichard who bad been ber guest. The walk to the place of execution was more like a triumphal march than the procession of a number of unfortunates doomed to the death of criminals. A chorus of Christian hymns and psalms sounded loud and cheerful, and these occasionally ceased while one or other of the confessors spoke words of comfort or remonstrance to the spectators. Lucy, in particular, spoke like a great preacher. In the dress of a tertiary of St. Francis, she headed the march, holding her crucifix on high; and beside her, radiant, in a dress of white velvet, walked Mauy MouRAYAMA. Lucy, to eucouragc the women who were with her, reminded them that perhaps the holy Virgins, Agatha, Cecilia, and Agnes, were even more delicate than any of them, saying,
- God, who strengthened them, will
support us also. We women shall be as strong as men." The guards, irritated. snatched her crucifix from her and broke it in pieces, at the same time tearing her Franciscan habit The stakes for burn- ing the confessors were set up near the site of the martyrdom of 1597. When Lucy and her companions arrived, they exchanged salutations with their spiritual Others. Lucy, who had prayed that she might have a good priest near her at her death, was tied to a stake near Father Spinola, who gave her absolution. The wood for burning the martyrs was first soaked in the sea to prolong the process. Spinola, worn out with suffering and fiitigue, was the first to die. So many years of apostolic labour and the rigours of captivity had only left him life that he might sacrifice it. After one hour, his black cotton cassock took fire and he was suffocated in an instant. A quantity of water was thrown over him, to stop the burning and prolong his sufferings, but the blessed Charles was already in heaven and the cruelty only had the effect of preserving the body entire with the cassock adhering to it. The bodies were strictly guarded for three days, lest any of the Christians should take them. Any persons coming too near the place were beaten and insulted. A pious woman who approached with the object of venerating the relics, was beheaded there and then. Leo Soukezayemon, Mary his wife, and Thomas his god- feither, were killed on the spot for trying to take the arm of one of the martyrs. Great trouble was taken utterly to destroy all relics and religious objects ; they were burnt, the ashes put in sacks and taken out to sea and sunk, and the ships that had carried them were care- fully washed. The body of Mary Mourayama was excepted. In Europe steps were taken towards the recognition of the martyrs as saints. The cause was introduced by Pope Urban VIIL at the instance of the King of Spain and the Counts of Tassaroli, to whose family Spinola belonged ; but the persecution was raging so fiercely and so many of the witnesses had fled or been banished, that it was impoesible to make the necessary inquiries and verifica- tions, and other delays and difficulties
