Posted on 03/11/2015 9:56:23 AM PDT by marshmallow
Between 14 and 17 March, the Japanese Church will honour the Catholics who survived two and a half centuries of persecution in Nagasaki by keeping their strong Catholic beliefs without priests or missionaries. Japan's 'hidden Christians "must leave the history books. The Church of Japan is working to make them living witnesses to inspire today's Catholics," said Mgr Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi. Although evangelisation in Japan is an uphill battle, bearing witness in person to evangelical values is necessary.
Niigata (AsiaNews) - The faith of Kakure Kirishitan, Japan's 'hidden Christians, "must leave the history books. The Church of Japan is working to make them living witnesses to inspire today's Catholics. However, there are many difficulties. In Japan, it is hard to talk about religion, any religion. However, exactly this should prompt us to do more for our predecessors," said Mgr Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, bishop of Niigata and president of the local Caritas, a few days before the Church celebrates the country's 'Hidden Christians'.
The event will begin on 14 March and last until 17, which marks the 250th anniversary of their re-emergence. In fact, after about two and a half centuries of total secrecy, Japan's underground Christian community came out of nowhere after the inauguration of the Church of Oura (near Nagasaki), which the Japanese government had granted to French missionaries.
Known as Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians), these early Christians had converted in the 16th century, remaining faithful to the Church despite the absence of missionaries and priests as well as the lack of freedom of religion and worship.
On 17 March 1865, as he was praying in the new church, Fr Petitjean - a missionary with the Missions Étrangères de Paris who later became the first bishop of Nagasaki - was joined by a small group of local farmers who asked.....
(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...
Thank you for posting this. Our family is interested in faith in Japan. My daughter is thinking about missionary work.
Have her read “Silence” if she hasn’t already.
It’s by Shusaku Endo. Good translation by William Johnston.
Thank you for the suggestion.
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