Martin Lumbreras Peralta and Melchor Sánchez Pérez

Both felt a keen call very early on to proclaim the Gospel in the missions of Asia. Melchor Sánchez Pérez embarked first in 1621 with a group of twenty-three missionaries. During the crossing, he was ordained a priest in Mexico, before arriving in Manila (Philippines) in July 1622. In the Philippines, he dedicated himself to preaching, notably in the Mindanao region (in Dagatet and Higaquit). He strove to learn local languages, including Tagalog, to better dialogue with the populations. Martin Lumbreras Peralta embarked in July 1622 from Cadiz and arrived in the Philippines in 1623. His superiors assigned him to the convent of Manila, where he held the positions of major sacristan and then master of novices for several years. During his stay, he actively promoted devotion to the Virgin of the Pillar, dedicating an altar and a painting to her in the church of Saint Nicholas in Manila. Despite the relative security of their ministry in the Philippines, the two religious shared the desire to go and assist the Christians of Japan, then subjected to violent persecution under the Tokugawa shogunate. In July 1632, responding to the call of imprisoned confreres, they obtained authorization to leave. They left Manila on August 4, 1632, and landed in Nagasaki eight days later. Betrayed by one of the Chinese merchants who had allowed them to enter the country clandestinely, they had to flee into the mountains surrounding Nagasaki. There they met the Dominican father Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia, who helped them hide and taught them the rudiments of the Japanese language. They then began to exercise their ministry in secret among the scattered Christians.

Their presence was quickly reported to the authorities. On November 3, 1632, they were discovered and arrested by government agents in Nagasaki.Thrown into a dark cell, they endured harsh conditions of detention. The governor of Nagasaki attempted to force them to apostatize and renounce the Christian faith, hoping thereby to discourage the local Christians. Faced with their categorical refusal and their unwavering fidelity to Jesus Christ, they were condemned to death.On December 11, 1632, they were led to the place of their execution in Nagasaki to be burned alive over a slow fire (the hi-aburi method). Melchor Sánchez Pérez died after four hours of torment. Martin Lumbreras Peralta survived for eighteen hours amidst the flames, continuing to pray and impress the spectators. Twenty-two Portuguese merchants present at the execution subsequently wrote a testimonial account of their heroic martyrdom.

The beatification process for the two martyrs officially began on February 11, 1928. The decree recognizing their martyrdom was signed by Pope John Paul II on November 28, 1988. Martin Lumbreras Peralta and Melchor Sánchez Pérez were solemnly beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 23, 1989, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, alongside other figures of holiness. Their liturgical feast is celebrated on December 11, the anniversary of their birth into Heaven.

The spirituality of the Blessed Martin and Melchior rests upon the total offering of self and apostolic zeal, characteristics of the missionary tradition of the Augustinian Recollects. They chose to leave the security of their ministry in the Philippines to voluntarily expose themselves to death in order to bring the sacraments and spiritual comfort to a persecuted Japanese Church deprived of pastors.

Their martyrdom left a lasting testimony of faith and courage. The extraordinary endurance of Martin of Saint Nicholas amidst the fire and the serenity of Melchior of Saint Augustine fortified the faith of the clandestine Christians of Japan (the Kakure Kirishitan) and continue to inspire the Order of Augustinian Recollects and the universal Church.