Posted on 08/09/2010 2:44:39 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
When the atom bomb "Fat Boy" devastated Nagasaki 65 years ago on Monday, one of the buildings reduced to rubble was the city's Urakami cathedral -- then among the largest churches in Asia.
The blinding nuclear flash that would claim more than 70,000 lives in the city also, in an instant, blew out the stained glass windows of the church, toppled its walls, burnt its altar and melted its iron bell.
But, in what local Christian followers have likened to a miracle, the head of a wooden Virgin Mary statue survived amid the collapsed columns and scorched debris of the Romanesque church flattened on August 9, 1945.
The appearance of the war-ravaged religious icon is haunting. The Madonna's eyes have become scorched, black hollows, the right cheek is charred, and a crack runs like a streaking tear down her face.
"When I first saw (the damaged statue), I thought the Virgin Mary was crying," said Shigemi Fukahori, a 79-year-old parishioner at the church who remembers the statue before the explosion that destroyed the cathedral that is called St Mary's in English.
"I thought it's as if the Virgin Mary is telling us about the misery of war by sacrificing herself," Fukahori said, quietly gazing at the statue. "This is a significant symbol of peace which should be preserved forever."
The remains of the statue of the Virgin Mary have found a new home inside a rebuilt church, also called St Mary's, built on the same site, only 500 metres (1,640 feet) from the bomb's ground zero.
But the powerful relic has also travelled widely as a symbol of peace -- most recently to New York for a UN nuclear disarmament conference in May, when it was also taken to a mass at the city's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
On their way, the Nagasaki religious leaders also carried the statue to the Vatican, where it was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, and to a ceremony in Guernica, Spain to mourn the victims of Nazi air attacks during World War II.
"We travelled overseas with the statue, with the idea that we would like to ask the Virgin Mary to act for peace," Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, the archbishop of Nagasaki, said in an interview with AFP.
"There are many ways to make such an appeal -- through pictures, film or narratives about the horror -- but the atomic-bombed Mary appears to have a different power to tell us about it."
Nagasaki, a southwestern port city, was Japan's sole gateway to the outside world during much of the Edo era (1603-1867) when the country retreated into self-imposed isolation.
The Edo era's Tokugawa Shogunate imposed anti-Christian edicts in the early 17th century, oppressing Christians and banishing European priests.
Some believers were martyred and others secretly maintained their creed as "hidden Christians" for more than 200 years until Japan reopened under the Meiji era that began in the late 19th century.
Some 8,500 local Christians were killed in the Nagasaki bombing.
Brother Thomas Ozaki Tagawa, speaking for other local Christians, said many were puzzled by why the United States attacked Nagasaki, Japan's largest Christian community: "Biting their lips, everybody was mortified."
While many of the survivors try to see the tragedy as a tribulation handed to them by God, their agonies are still rooted deeply in their minds.
"I was too sad to cry because it was simply too merciless," said Fukahori, who survived inside a Nagasaki factory when the mushroom cloud rose.
"Many survivors are still suffering the after-effects of the radiation," Fukahori said. "All I can do is to pray for them. I hope Nagasaki will be the last place ever to fall victim to an atomic bomb."
Many Americans believe the bombs were necessary to bring a quick end to the war and avoid a bloody land invasion, but the archbishop disagrees.
"Japan killed millions in Asia, but that doesn't mean dropping atomic bombs is justified," he said. "Possessing nuclear weapons in itself is a sin."
Mayor Tomihisa Taue said: "People simply need to use the power of their imagination and consider how it would be if this happened to their family or friends. You can easily imagine that when you visit Nagasaki or Hiroshima."
And led to a divided Japan as the Soviets would have joined in and claimed their half.
>>Can a Catholic tell us where in the Bible it says it is a sin to have nuclear weapons?<<
A Catholic can’t tell you that because it’s not there.
This is a personal opinion of that Archbishop. Unless it’s from the Vatican, it’s not a “Catholic” opinion. It’s the opinion of a man that holds an office in the Latin Catholic Church.
in 1945, the Japanese Army was killing 10,000 people each day in China, Korea, SE Asia and the Western Pacific.
If anyone at the time had any better ideas on stopping that and ending the war quickly, I would like to hear them.
I researched and wrote a lengthy article on why dropping the bomb was necessary. I am all for an end to all wars and nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, it is time to close the door on recriminations over WW II. As Jesus said, “Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8: 7) And suicide is mortally sinful. All the Japanese people were ordered to resist to the death if the Allied soldiers attempted to land on the main islands. It’s not just that millions more on both sides would have died with an invasion, Japan would have been divided with Russia occupying the northern islands and the Americans the southern. We can see with Korea and Vietnam just how well that would have worked. Enough of the sanctimonious clap-trap and get on your knees and pray for peace, bishops!!!!!!! Your own country has refused to apologize to all the Asian nations it invaded and for all its atrocities which you obviously don’t care to be reminded of. As the Angel of Fatima said, “Penance! Penance! Penance!” Now.
How is everyone to know this isn’t from the Vatican? It’s coming from an archbishop’s mouth into an official publication.
Are we to ignore all things from Catholic leaders until they are individually verified by the Vatican?
As I understand it, the Japanese put up incredible resistance on Okinawa so that the Ameiricans would believe it would be too costly to invade the mainland. This would allow them to sue for better peace terms.
They were right about the Americans believing that the cost of invasion would be very high (and maybe it would have been) and therefore, the decision to drop the atomic bombs was make easier for the Americans.
I am not so sure that at the time the decision was all that difficult. I asked my Dad if there was much moralizing about dropping the bombs right after it happened. His answer was simple. No.
LOL! - however, I prefer the younger-looking Japanese version
We also knew of the horrors of Japanese P.O.W. Camps.
I was too young to know too many people but I bet not one in the neighborhood said, "Oh my how awful.. it'd be much better for the war to continue."
I wonder what the place of Christianity is, in the Japan of today. Seriously, just asking.
Christians are a large percentage of South Korea, and Christianity flourishes in China under persecution (isn’t that how it always does best?).
Yes, Nagasaki was immolated, but only after Jap warlords scoffed at the notion that there was more than one A-bomb. Days later, the war stopped. Period.
The firebombing of Tokyo in February 1945 killed more than 100K.
Forty eight years ago after my ship the USS Renville put in to Sasebo, I traveled up to Nagasaki and saw the remnants of the Cathedral with one wall standing with St. Josephs statue pointing to the skies. My dad was in the 509th Composite Bomb Group that was insrumental in dropping the bomb on Hiroshema and Nagasaki. I hate to bring up anecdotal experiences but it is what it is. The 509thsaved many American and Japanese lives.
I believe that it is still Nagasaki. The second bomb was supposed to have been dropped on a city other than Nagasaki (I can’t think of the name), but because of the cloud cover that day the alternate target was selected — Nagasaki.
The arsenal at Kokura was the other potential target, but I believe it was saved by cloud cover.
On May 10–11, 1945, the Target Committee at Los Alamos, led by J. Robert Oppenheimer, recommended Kyoto, Hiroshima, Yokohama, and the arsenal at Kokura as possible targets.
Protesters of our use of atomic bombs against Japan can go to hell.
Using them saved a milion lives and if only ONE was an American servicemans then it was worth it.
Remember Japans attack on Pearl Harbor and their barbaric treatment of China and our captured prisoners.
Hey Japen,
Up yours.
As a Catholic it is disappointing to see more America bashing for church leadership. This Bishops and Cardinals that attack the USA came in during Vatican 2 when strict requirements for the priesthood were decreased and homosexual men were accepted. Hence, the ultimate outcome was the homosexual pedophile molestation cases and a very liberal church leadership. As they old priests die off, they are being replaced by more conservative younger priests.
As far as weapons and Jesus goes, lets remember what he said to his apostles Luke 22:35-38.
22:35. When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want anything?
22:36. But they said: Nothing. Then said he unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath not, let him sell his coat and buy a sword.
22:37. For I say to you that this that is written must yet be fulfilled in me. And with the wicked was he reckoned. For the things concerning me have an end.
22:38. But they said: Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said to them: It is enough.
>>How is everyone to know this isn’t from the Vatican? It’s coming from an archbishop’s mouth into an official publication.<<
It’s easy. If it isn’t coming from the Vatican or verified by the Vatican, it’s someone’s opinion.
Are you Catholic?
No, but then you are saying that everything your priest says must be validated from Rome to be legitimate.
Is this what happens? Do you get a certification from the Vatican with each sermon?
Yes, the use of incendiary bombs coupled with flammable building materials cost many lives. After the first Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima many Japanese believed it was just another fire bombing raid.
>>No, but then you are saying that everything your priest says must be validated from Rome to be legitimate.<<
Actually, you are saying that.
I don’t need to have a certificate to know what is official from The Church. If in doubt, I double check. You can too.
As you are not Catholic, it shouldn’t matter to you anyway.
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