Jan Roman was a Franciscan tertiary and a Christian martyr who lived in Japan during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He supported local missionaries by providing them with shelter and transportation via his own boat. While serving as a catechist, he was eventually imprisoned in Omura and later in Nagasaki. Despite his confinement, he refused to renounce his Catholic faith, leading to his execution in Nagasaki on September 8, 1628.
Life and martyrdom
During his time in Japan, Roman acted as a dedicated supporter of the missionary movement. He used his personal vessel to assist clergy traveling through the islands. Following his arrest, he remained steadfast in his religious convictions through successive periods of imprisonment. His refusal to abandon his beliefs resulted in his death by decapitation in 1628.
Veneration
He was beatified by Pope Pius IX on May 7, 1867, as part of a group containing 205 Japanese martyrs. Within the Catholic liturgical calendar, his memory is observed on September 8, which marks his death, or on September 10 when he is commemorated alongside other martyrs.