21 November, 2009 A A A | | |
Help AsiaNews | About us | P.I.M.E. |
go to front page




Voli Low Cost Roma
Voli Milano



China | Islam | Economy | Freedom of religion | Vatican
e-mail this to a friend printable version


» 10/08/2007 11:22
JAPAN
Nagasaki, November 24 188 Catholic martyrs beatified
The announcement was made by the Japanese Bishop’s Conference. Card. Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints will be present at the ceremony. Archbishop of Tokyo: preserving the faith gifted to us by our predecessors by their own blood, in our hearts.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) – The beatification ceremony for 188 Japanese martyrs killed in the XVII for their faith will take place next year on Nov. 24 in Nagasaki. The public announcement was made by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan (CBCJ) spokesman Fr. Manyo Maeda, who read a letter sent by the Vatican to Conference president Msgr. Takeo Okada, bishop of Tokyo.

Card. Saraiva Martins, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints will represent Pope Benedict XVI at the ceremony, the first beatification to be conducted in Japan. According to Fr. Isao Hashimoto, Nagasaki Diocesan chancellor, over 20 faithful have already declared their intent to participate in the mass.

In a letter to Japan’s Catholics Msgr. Okada announced the Vatican’s decision with “great joy” and added:  “I hope we take to heart the meaning of the treasure our predecessors in the faith left us”.

Among the 188 Japanese martyrs killed in the XVII century for their faith there were priests, nuns and lay: the cause has become known as “the beatification of Fr. Kibe and his 187 companions”.

Jesuit Father Pietro Kassui Kibe, a convert to Christianity, had fled persecution from the government to Rome where he entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained priest.  He returned to Japan to carry out his ministry among the oppressed faithful and in 1639 was captured tortured and killed in Tokyo.

 


e-mail this to a friend printable version

See also
07/28/2006 JAPAN
188 Japanese martyrs to be beatified in Nagasaki
11/26/2008 JAPAN – VATICAN
Beatification of 188 martyrs embodies the faith in Japan and Asia
by Pino Cazzaniga
11/21/2008 VATICAN - JAPAN
The 188 Japanese martyrs, like the martyrs of the early centuries
by Mark Tardiff
02/28/2007 JAPAN
Beatification cause of 188 Japanese martyrs proceeds
11/20/2008 JAPAN
The 188 martyrs, an expansion opportunity for the Japanese Church
by Pino Cazzaniga

Dossier

Editor's choices
CHINA - VATICAN
Underground bishop: I joined the Patriotic Association for the good of the Church
by Zhen Yuan
Mgr. An Shuxin says he was not pressured by the Vatican for his choice. In front of the division created in the diocese of Baoding, priests and experts are asking the Vatican and China to free the ordinary Bishop Su Zhimin, , in prison for the past 13 years.
CHINA – VATICAN
In Hebei, underground bishop joins Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
by Bernardo Cervellera
Mgr Francis An Shuxin spent ten years in police custody. Now he is free but still under surveillance, dragged around to meetings to show the correctness of the government’s religious policy. Three bishops remain in police custody. A priest is arrested whilst two are freed to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. The Vatican is accused of ambiguities.
VATICAN
Synod Message: Africa, Rise up and walk!
Here is the full text of the Message prepared by the Bishops during the African Synod. It looks at the continent’s tragedies and hopes as well as the Church’s commitment to development, the dignity of women, and the fight against AIDS. It also refers to the dialogue with the Churches of Asia.

Copyright © 2003 AsiaNews C.F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, republish, sell or otherwise distribute the content or any modified or altered versions of it without the express written permission of the editor. Photos on AsiaNews.it are largely taken from the internet and thus considered to be in the public domain. Anyone contrary to their publication need only contact the editorial office which will immediately proceed to remove the photos.