Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia
Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia was a Spanish Dominican priest and missionary who served the Catholic community in Japan for ten years under persecution. Betrayed by an apostate, he was captured and executed in Nagasaki, becoming a martyr for his faith. He is remembered for his courageous ministry in difficult circumstances and his eventual beatification.
- Feast Day
- September 28
- Century
- 17th century
- Country Or Region
- Japan
Key Facts
- ›He was born in Régil, Guipúzcoa, Spain, and entered the Dominican Order in 1605.
- ›After theological studies and ordination in Manila, he ministered in Luzon before becoming a theology professor at the Colegio de Santo Tomas.
- ›In 1623, he went to Japan disguised as a merchant to aid the declining Catholic community.
- ›He ministered incognito for about ten years, often at night and in hiding, due to anti-Christian persecution.
- ›He was denounced by a Christian apostate in July 1633, captured, and executed by the torment of gallows and the pit on August 14, 1633.
- ›His feast day is celebrated on September 28.
About Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia
Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia (c. 1589 – August 14, 1633) was a Spanish Dominican priest and missionary who became a martyr in Japan. His life and ministry were marked by dedication to serving Catholic communities under severe persecution.
Life and Ministry
Born in Régil, Guipúzcoa, Spain, Ibáñez de Erquicia entered the Dominican Order and was professed in 1605. After completing his theological studies, he traveled to the Philippines, arriving in Manila in 1611 and being ordained the following year. He initially worked as a missionary in Pangasinan and Binondo in Luzon before becoming a professor of theology at the Colegio de Santo Tomas.
In 1623, responding to a decline in Dominican missionaries in Japan due to the Tokugawa anti-Christian persecution, Father Ibáñez departed for Japan disguised as a merchant. Upon his arrival, a decree was issued banning Spaniards from residing in the country. He spent approximately ten years ministering incognito to the Catholic community, offering comfort, reconciling apostates, and administering sacraments under difficult and dangerous circumstances. His ministry was conducted primarily at night, and he constantly moved to avoid detection. In 1625, he was appointed provincial vicar and spent two years in the northern part of the country.
Martyrdom
The persecution of Christians intensified, leading many to flee to the mountains. Ibáñez de Erquicia was constantly sought by the authorities. In July 1633, he was betrayed to government officials by a Christian apostate and imprisoned in Nagoya. He was subsequently taken to Nagasaki. After refusing to renounce his faith, he was subjected to torture on August 13, 1633, and died the following day. His body was burned, and the ashes scattered.
Veneration
Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia was beatified during Pope John Paul II's papal visit to the Philippines. This beatification ceremony was notable as the first to be held outside the Vatican in the modern era. His feast day is observed on September 28.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia born?
Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia was born around 1589 in Régil, Guipúzcoa, Spain. He entered the Dominican Order and completed his theological studies before embarking on missions.
What was Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia's role in Japan?
He went to Japan in 1623, disguised as a merchant, to minister incognito to the Catholic community. He served for about ten years under difficult circumstances, offering comfort and administering sacraments.
How did Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia die?
He was betrayed by an apostate Christian in July 1633 and imprisoned. After refusing to renounce his faith, he was subjected to the torment of gallows and the pit and died on August 14, 1633, in Nagasaki.
When is the feast day of Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia?
His feast day is celebrated on September 28. He was beatified during Pope John Paul II's papal visit to the Philippines.
Who assisted Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia in his missionary work?
Francis Shoyemon, a Japanese layman, aided Ibáñez in his missionary efforts, serving as a catechist and translator. Shoyemon was with Ibáñez when he was imprisoned and was also put to death on the same day.
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Guillaume Courtet
Guillaume Courtet was a French Dominican friar and missionary who became one of the first Frenchmen to visit Japan. He is remembered as a martyr for his beheading in Nagasaki in 1637 after enduring torture by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Canonized in 1987, he is venerated as one of the 16 Martyrs of Japan.
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