Saint Marina of Omura – Japanese Christian Martyr and Saint

ST. MARINA OF OMURA

Saint Marina of Omura was a Japanese laywoman and member of the Dominican Third Order who sheltered Christians during persecution. Martyred by slow fire in 1634, she remained devout until death. Canonized in 1987, she is honored for her unwavering faith and bravery.

Marina of Omura was born in the town of Omura, near Nagasaki in Japan, during a time when Christianity had taken root in the region under the influence of European missionaries. Omura itself had a rich Catholic heritage, being the domain of Omura Sumitada, the first Japanese daimyo to embrace Christianity. This cultural and religious background profoundly shaped Marina’s upbringing. From a young age, she exhibited deep faith and commitment to Christian teachings, ultimately joining the Dominican Third Order in 1626. As a tertiary, she embraced the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living a lay religious life devoted to Christ.

Despite increasing pressure from the Tokugawa shogunate to renounce Christianity, Marina chose to remain faithful. During the 17th century, particularly under Tokugawa Iemitsu’s rule, Christianity was outlawed and its followers were harshly persecuted. Foreign missionaries were expelled or executed, and Japanese converts were forced to publicly denounce their faith. Marina, however, used her home as a place of refuge for hidden missionaries and fellow believers. Her quiet acts of charity and defiance placed her in grave danger.

In 1634, she was discovered and arrested by the authorities. She was first humiliated publicly by being paraded naked through her hometown. Despite this degradation, she did not deny her beliefs. She was then transported to Nagasaki, where she faced execution by "slow fire," a torturous method meant to draw out the pain of death. Eyewitnesses recount that she remained composed and prayerful throughout her suffering, offering prayers not just for herself but for her persecutors and fellow Christians. Her faith never wavered even in her final moments, and she died a martyr's death on November 11, 1634.

Her memory was preserved through the quiet reverence of the underground Christian communities in Japan, known as "Kakure Kirishitan," who survived centuries of persecution by secretly maintaining their beliefs. It wasn’t until centuries later that the Catholic Church formally recognized her martyrdom. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1981, alongside fifteen other Japanese martyrs. Later, on October 18, 1987, she was canonized, becoming one of the first Japanese women saints officially recognized by the Catholic Church.

Marina's legacy is honored with statues and memorials in her hometown of Omura and in Nagasaki, where many martyrs like her gave their lives. She is remembered for her incredible resilience, gentle strength, and unshakeable devotion. Her feast is observed on September 28th along with other martyrs of Japan, and she stands as a symbol of courage in the face of oppression, a reminder of the cost of faith, and the enduring power of belief.

Feast Day

28-9-

Birth Date

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Died Date

11-11-1634

Canonised Date

18-10-1987

Nagasaki, Japan

O blessed Saint Marina of Omura, who bore great suffering for love of Christ, grant us your strength in times of trial, and intercede for us, that we may remain faithful in all we do. Amen.
ST. MARINA OF OMURA

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ST. MARINA OF OMURA

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Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
by Msgr. Thomas Moothedan, M.A., D.D.
Saint Companions for Each Day
by A. J. M. Mausolfe & J. K. Mausolfe
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