dominican saints

The Blessed Father Lewis Bertrand had the distinguished honor of belonging to the family of the illustrious Saint and Apostle of the West Indies, who nearly a century before had displayed, to both the Old and the New World, such a marvelous example of sanctity. What higher praise can be given to Father Lewis than to say that he was not content to bear the same name, but that he earnestly endeavored to imitate the religious virtues and apostolic labors of the glorious Saint Lewis Bertrand?

He was born in the city of Barcelona and was called Lewis after his illustrious ancestor. The name of his family was Exarch, which shows that he was a kinsman of the saint on the female side, that being the name of the saint’s mother. In him was exemplified that saying of Holy Writ, “Blessed is the man that has borne the yoke from his youth,” for in imitation of his patron he entered the Order of St. Dominic, in the strict Priory of St. Catherine the Martyr, in his native city, while only fourteen years old , obeying, at this early age, the call of God to forsake the world and his father’s house with the simplicity of the young prophet Samuel. Though he had abandoned the dangers of the world while his innocence was still unsullied, he treated himself during his novitiate as the worst of sinners. His master had frequently to restrain the ardent desire the youthful novice showed for every kind of mortification, and to take from him the disciplines and other instruments of penance with which he mortified his tender body. Fasting, watching, and prayer were his delight, and the Fathers of the Priory were astonished at the mature grace and virtue displayed by the young religious. Saint Lewis Bertrand lived again in the person of his kinsman. After his profession the diligence with which he studied in no way distracted his mind from God, for without encroaching on the time devoted to study, he spent all his leisure in earnest prayer, nourishing the flame of love in his heart, together with the light of truth in his intellect.

Having thus imitated Saint Lewis in his student’s life, he felt drawn by the Holy Ghost to follow him also into foreign lands for the benefit of souls, lost in the darkness of heathenism. Hearing of the regular life and apostolic zeal of the religious of the Province of the Holy Rosary, he entreated his superiors to send him there, and, grieved as they were to be deprived of such a model of religious perfection, they recognized the will of God and granted his petition. He arrived at the Priory of Manilla in the year 1618, and though not yet ordained Priest, he was ordered at once to study the language of the natives, that he might be employed in their instruction. He soon became sufficiently familiar with this language, and also with Chinese, so that after his ordination he labored with great success among the Indians and Chinese settlers. In 1622 the news of the Great Martyrdom raised a universal desire among the members of the Philippine Province to win a like crown, and to walk in the footsteps of their brethren. All could not be spared, but Lewis Bertrand was one of the happy few selected. He immediately applied himself to the study of the language, and on July 19 in the year following he effected an entrance into Japan. Though the “Benjamin” of the Province, as Fr. Advarte calls him, he had been chosen on account of his distinguished sanctity and talent.

At that time the chief seat of persecution was the city of Nagasaki, owing to the extreme hatred entertained against the Christians by the two under-governors, one of whom was an apostate. Many of the faithful had taken refuge in other kingdoms. On his arrival, therefore, the Vicar Provincial assigned Omura to Father Lewis as his mission, and owing to the small number of religious he was obliged to depart alone. His apostolate lasted only three years, during which time he wrought wonders, converting the heathen, confirming the faith of the Christians, spending whole nights in hearing confessions, and esteeming every labor easy and every suffering sweet, if there was a hope of leading one soul to Christ.

The poor Christians of Omura looked on Father Lewis as an angel sent from heaven for their welfare. Dressed as a Japanese peasant, barefoot, or shod only with sandals, he journeyed through the province, regardless of the cold of winter or the heat of summer, both of which in Japan are extreme. “We rejoice,” said one of his companions, “when the weather is bad, for then we are less likely to be watched.”

Father Lewis selected the cabin of a poor woman, named Martha, a leper, for his lodging, both because thus he was more hidden, and because she was neglected and despised by the world. Two of those curious crosses occasionally found during the persecution in the heart of a forest-tree were discovered about this time, and one being given to Father Lewis, the other to Father Francis of Mary, a Franciscan, they inspired both these holy men with a fresh hope of martyrdom, which was soon realized. Father Lewis gives an account of his capture in a letter to Father Anthony of the Rosary, the administrator of the diocese of Macao, in which he humbly thanks God for allowing him to suffer for His Name and makes a solemn offering of his life to his Lord. A traitor discovered the place of his concealment, which was suddenly surrounded by soldiers sent to arrest the servant of God, with his two companions, the one an old man who for a long time had acted as guide to the missionaries, the other a youthful catechist. Seeing that his hostess was a helpless old leper, the guards left her unmolested, and it was only at her earnest entreaty that she also was carried to prison. “The first night of my captivity,” says the martyr, “I was not bound with these chains, which are so sweet to bear, but I was closely bound by the chains of Divine Love.”

About a year was spent by these martyrs in prison, during which time the persecution raged in every part, and many received the crown of martyrdom. Shortly before their execution, the two Japanese taken with Father Lewis made their professions as lay-brothers of the Order, one taking the name of Mance of the Cross, to commemorate the finding of the miraculous cross above mentioned, the other, Peter of St. Mary. The old leper, Martha, became a member of the Third Order. Father Lewis was able to offer the Holy Sacrifice, after which the vows were pronounced with great fervor. On July 26, 1627, they all glorified God in the flames.

The Christians managed to secure the head of the Blessed Father Lewis Bertrand, and this precious relic was afterwards taken to Spain, where, during the year 1765, God was pleased to honor it with a remarkable miracle. Father Pius Vives was commissioned to carry the relic through Spain, to consign it to the Priory of St. Dominic in Barcelona. Being in weak health, it was dangerous for him to be exposed to bad weather, but he was several times obliged to travel on foot during storms of rain, while passing through Catalonia. After the journey he deposed on oath that during the whole time he was carrying Father Lewis Bertrand’s head, he was never touched by a drop of the rain that poured around him. His companion, Father Baptist Salva, testified to the truth of this assertion.

REFERENCE: 

Wilberforce, Fr. Bertrand A, “Dominican Missions and Japanese Martyrs.” Catholic Truth Society, London. 1897. Print.