(See my personal page)
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.
This is a powerful witness to the depth and strength of faith implanted by the Franciscans in that community. Imagine ... 250 years WITHOUT clergy or communion.
Awesome how the Holy Spirit sustained them. I also read from (or probably heard in a sermon) by Fr. George Rutler that after 250 years, when western missionaries came upon this faithful group, the first questions they asked the missionaries were: (1) Are you in communion with the Pope? (2) Do you believe in the Real Presence of the Holy Eucharist? (3) Do you venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary? (4) Are your priests celibate?
If what Fr. Rutler says is true (and I have no reason not to think otherwise), then this particular group of Japanese faithful must indeed be demonstrating heroic faith! The seed of the blood of the martyrs have truly sprung out of arid land and bears much fruit.
I am thrilled to bits to see your personal page. You'll never know how much it delights me, a Secular Franciscan. ;)
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
And I am happy to read from your page the authentic verse in the "Canticle of the Sun" about "our Sister, Mother Earth," where St. Francis emphasized that the earth is "our sister" i.e., one of God's creations. Some liberals have all but erased the word "sister," thus selling out to radical environmentalists and feminist earth-worshippers who often misquote St. Francis for their own purposes.
Pax et bonum to you, too.