[nina0113]

However, when Japan was re-opened to Western contacts 250 years later, it was found that a community of Japanese Christians had survived underground, without clergy, without Scriptures, with only very sketchy instructions in the doctrines of the faith, but with a firm commitment to Jesus as Lord.

I heard a priest give a talk once about the Eucharist, and he mentioned the Church Underground in Japan, saying that without a priest, they could celebrate only the Liturgy of the Word, and when it came time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, they would weep.

[NYer]

I heard a priest give a talk once about the Eucharist, and he mentioned the Church Underground in Japan, saying that without a priest, they could celebrate only the Liturgy of the Word, and when it came time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, they would weep.

Yes .. I recall a similar story. IIRC, these people went for many generations without a priest but passed down the faith to their children. When a priest finally arrived, they greeted him like a king. I had to say this but we Catholics in the US have taken our Church for granted. Perhaps an Obama administration is just what is needed to wake these Catholics from their deep slumber.