austraLasia #2297


"Yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing" (Mt 10:29)
(This beautiful, once-off reflection comes from a Japanese who attended the Beatification of Peter Kibe and 187 martyrs in Nagasaki)

NAGASAKI: (24th November 2008) -- A small bird, a sparrow, lay motionless in the cold rain just outside the dining room window of the retreat house overlooking Nagasaki Bay. "What can this mean, on the morning of Beatification day" I wondered? Only later I recalled the words of Scripture, "Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing".
    It was raining hard on the morning of the 24th, as forecast, though the clouds were moving. The sentiments of those attending were mixed. A religious sister said pensively, "perhaps we need to do some sacrifice", while a Polish missionary said "whatever the Lord gives us is ok"! A girl said she didn't bring a raincoat with a hood as recommended (no umbrellas allowed). As it turned out there was rain and sun but not too much rain.
    30,000 from around Japan and abroad packed into the 'Big N', the public baseball stadium in Nagasaki, from 12 noon. The celebrant was Cardinal Shirayanagi, and the Papal envoy who would proclaim the 188 martyrs 'Blessed' was Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, retired Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Surrounding the altar were the bishops of Japan, cardinals and bishops from other countries (Vietnam - one cardinal and 2 bishops), Korea (7 bishops), India, Taiwan....and some 600 concelebrating priests including the Augustinian Prior General whose order is celebrating one of their own amongst the blesseds, Fr Thomas Kintsuba Jihyoe.
    It was touching for a Japanese to see so many from other countries coming to celebrate and share the joy of the Beatification of our martyrs. Among those gathered were Filipinos, Vietnamese, 1000 Korean pilgrims. Even some from Hawaii. It was as though the song of one of the martyrs had come alive. Michael the chemist, leader of the Confraternity of Misericordia, sang until he burned to death at the stake on the hill of Nishizaka, the famous site of martyrdom in Nagaskai. His song? "Praise the Lord all you nations, extol him all you peoples".  There were also representatives from the Lutheran and Anglican Churches, Buddhist monks and Shinto priests invited for the occasion.
    When Pope John Paul visited Japan in 1981, he encouraged the Japanese Church to commemorate the testimony of the martyrs which is so richly given to our Church. Years of hard work, research by prominent scholars such as Fr Hubert Cieslik SJ, Fr Yuki Ryogo (born Diego Pacheco) SJ, Fr Tadeusz Oblak SJ - and Bishop Francis Mizobe SDB, the chairman of the committee for the cause.
    The mass began with a procession led by a cross, then a group of young people, each carrying a small vessel with the relics of the martyrs, followed by Fr Renzo De Luca, curator of the 26 Martyrs Museum holding a ciborium also containing the relic of a martyr. The relics were placed on the altar. The procession of celebrants followed.
    Following the proclamation of the beatification by Cardinal Martins, a large beautiful picture behind the altar depicting the blessed martyrs was unveiled and 188 doves flew into the sky. The liturgy was well prepared and beautiful, if perhaps rather quiet for a grand occasion such as this, reflecting the Japanese character.
    Cardinal Shirayanagi said in his homily that the martyrs came from different walks of life (noble and common, samurai, peasant, men, women, children, youths, elderly, priests, a lay brother), all witnessing that nothing could separate us from the love of Christ. They also point the way, he said, to a world where human dignity and the value of of life will be respected and all effort is made to overcome war, poverty and other evils. The cardinal said God is calling us and the new Blesseds are calling us today: Do not be afraid!
    Cardinal Martins noted in his message that Christ is the reason to offer one's life, not persecution, and that martyrdom is the supreme expression of true freedom and love, quoting St Augustine. Both cardinals prayed for the intercession of Mary, Queen of Martyrs, for our Japanese Church and its mission. It is interesting to note that Cardinal Martins celebrated the beatification of the parents of St Theresa of the Infant Jesus, patroness of the missions, but a month ago, on World Mission Day. One feels a profound sense of the communion of the Church.
    Now the long-awaited Beatification is over. Is there life after November 24th? Yes!  We have a grand mission ahead of us which starts today. Peter Kibe and the 187 martyrs are calling us: Do not be afraid! Become witnesses of God's love, be in this world but not of this world, believe in and explain the meaning of life, join forces with people of good will to overcome evil in our lives.
    Thank you Lord for such a grace and for such an experience of love and communion expressed through the Church .

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Title: australasia 2297
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces GIA 188 Blessed Martyrs
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2297