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Thomas Jihyoe of Saint Augustine

Augustinian Servant of God

Beatification Expected in November, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI on June 1, 2007 confirmed the martyrdom of Augustinian Thomas “Kintsuba” Jihyoe and his 187 companions in Japan, clearing the way for them to be beatified. At the request of the Bishops of Japan, November 24, 2008 has been set as the date for the beatification ceremony. It will take place in Nagasaki, Japan.

Thomas Jihyoe of Saint Augustine (1600?-1637) was a Japanese Augustinian friar who gave his life for Christ during the persecution of Christians in Seventeenth Century Japan.

Thomas was born around the year 1600 in Omura, Japan, near Nagasaki. His parents, Christian catechists, were both martyred for the Faith.

As a youth Thomas studied under the Jesuits in Arima. When the Jesuit school was closed during the persecution, Thomas, along with his Jesuit teachers, was expelled from his native land. He went to Macao, where he continued his studies.

In 1622 he went to Manila, Philippines. There he entered the Augustinians, taking his vows in 1624. He was then sent to Cebu City, Philippines, where he completed his theological studies and was ordained a Priest.

As the persecution in Japan continued, more and more Catholic missionaries were martyred. Thomas, seeing that the Christians there were in great need of pastoral care and guidance, felt a call to return to the land of his birth.

He tried several times to obtain the permission of his superiors to return to Japan, and finally, in 1631, he went back to his homeland.

Since he was Japanese, it was fairly easy for him to conceal his priesthood from the authorities. He obtained a position in the administration of the Governor of Nagasaki under the name Kintsuba (Garnished with Gold). Fearless, and motivated by faith, Thomas was able to offer support to the imprisoned, including Augustinian Bartholomew Gutiérrez. When Bartholomew was killed, Thomas continued to encourage and help the other Christian prisoners.

Soon the Governor began to suspect that there was a Priest ministering to the captives in jail. Thomas had to flee the city. He took refuge in a nearby cave. He became the object of a famous manhunt.

Thomas would go out under cover of night to minister to the faithful Catholics. He constantly changed his appearance, wearing disguises and never following the same route twice.

Finally, in 1637 he was captured. He revealed his true identity to his captors. He underwent many kinds of cruel torture. Remaining steadfast in his Christian faith, Thomas was condemned to death.

On November 6, 1637 he was hung by his feet with his head inserted into a pit of rotting garbage until he died.

He was initially listed along with the three Jesuits and 184 lay Catholics whose process of beatification and canonization was opened in 1996 by the Bishops of Japan. Subsequently, Thomas' cause was entrusted to the Augustinians.

The Congregation for the Saints approved on December 7, 2004 the Positio for Thomas and his 187 companions. Pope Benedict XVI on June 1, 2007 confirmed the martyrdom of Thomas and the other 187. The beatification ceremony is planned for November 24, 2008 in Nagasaki, Japan. Fernando Rojo Martínez, O.S.A., the Augustinian Postulator of Causes, is overseeing the progress of his cause.

See also Augustinian Martyrs of Japan and Saint Madgalene of Nagasaki.

Is God Calling You to the Augustinians?

Would you like to witness to Christ as did Thomas Jihyoe? If so, perhaps God is calling you to the Augustinians. For information about Augustinian vocations, or to contact the Augustinian Vocations Director for help in your vocational discernment:

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Illustration of Thomas Jihyoe of Saint Augustine by János Hajnal
in Il fascino di Dio: Profili de agiografia agostiniana by Fernando Rojo Martínez, O.S.A.
Copyright © 2000 Pubblicazioni Agostiniane Rome. Used with permission.
Original art preserved in the Office of Augustinian Postulator of Causes, Rome