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3d. PERTH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1942.
NO. 3,006.
SIXTY-NINTH YEAR
Xavier Gave the Faith to Japan Japan gave the Martyrs of Nagasaki to the Church 250 YEARS
ed by being sent to the most distant and dangerous posts, as far removed as possible from the Shogun. It was but the 'beginning. While this feeling was causing alarm in many circles, a saintly Franciscan, Father Peter Baptist, came from Manila with several companions to preach Christ in a land which, they had been told, was ripe for the harvest. With an eye to securing information regarding Manila, rather than with any interest in the teaching eyoshi sent for Father Baptist and showed him and his companions many The Jesuits warned Father favours. Baptist to be careful. They pointed out the insane jealousy of the Buddhist priests, and bade him go slowly. But that good man, seeing only souls to rapidly with 138 priests and catechists save, sent to his superiors for more preaching to some 600,000 Catholics. In 1580 the Emperor Goyogei and the Franciscans to help him in this new field. For a while the Church conShogun Hideyoshi ruled over Japan, Korea, and Manila. In that same year tinued to spread rapidly, with many three of the leading daimios (feudal important conversions among the leadHospitals, leprosaria, ing noblemen. lords) sent delegates to Pope Gregory XIII to thank him for having sent apos- orphanages were founded; monasteries and churches were built: and what tles to lead them to salvation. These seemed to have been a threatening perdelegates went laden with gifts for the secution was, for the moment, averted. Holy Father, evidence of gratitude for On July 12, 1596, a great disaster vistheir Faith. In the 33rd, year, as in the life of their Master, the Christians ited Kyoto, at that time the leading city of Japan. A comet, falling to the began to feel the first taste of suffering. Hideyoshi, thwarted in his desire to earth, was followed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The Buddhist secure a young Catholic girl for his priests seized upon this as an evidence court, attempted to exile the foreign of the anger of the Japanese gods showpriests. But the power of the Christians was great, and the Shogun saw ing their displeasure to the foreign rethat he would only meet with greater ligion and the foreign priests. Hidedifficulties if he persevered in this plan. yoshi immediately restricted the activiInstead, Catholic daimios were punish- ties of the priests, and issued an edict The inhabitants of the Island Empire to -day, including the provinces of Formosa and Korea, number more than 93,000,000. Most of these are adherents to the Buddhist or Shinto sects; not more than 210,000 are Catholics. For 1,549 years Christ and His religion had been debarred from the country. When St. Francis Xavier reached Kagoshima the Emperor Gonara was reigning, and under his protection the apostle found a welcome. For two and a half years Xavier remained in Japan, spreading, as if by miracle, the Faith of Christ. In 1552 he wrote of his neophytes, "I saw them rejoicing in our successes, manifesting an ardent zeal to spread the Faith.' For the 30 years following his ministry the Gospel spread
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From Kyoto, through the cold snow, inadequately clothed, the holy men began the long trek of more than 400 At Osaka, one of miles to Nagasaki. the Christians was so overcome at the sight of the priests' sufferings that he clung desperately to Father Baptist and, when he could not be driven away, was added to the number. At a further stop, Peter, a boy of 12, rushed out to the wagon occupied by three "I'll brothers, his former teachers. stay with you," he promised them, "from now until we reach Nagasakior.Heaven !" He, too, was seized and taken along. All was in readiness at Nagasaki when the 26, after four weeks of bitter journeying, reached the hill for execution, Here, facing the ocean, 26 crosses had been set up which, when the con-
ASTOUNDING FAITH OF JAPANESE CATHOLICS THROUGH
cross like their Master and Lord; a privilege, they assured them, given to
-"two and a half years Xavier remain,ed in Japan, spreading, as if by a miracle, the Faith of Christ."
that no more foreign priests would be
allowed to enter the country. A short while later, a foreign boat loaded with a rich cargo bound for New Spain was wrecked on the shore of Japan. The Shogun's advisers, prevailing upon his avarice, advised him to imprison the priests who were on the boat, and to take the cargo as penalty for priests daring to enter a land where more had been forbidden. The Buddhist monks not only rejoiced at this well -taken advice, but followed it up with the suggestion that it was unfair to imprison only the new priests; the old resident priests should also be done away with.
Just before Christmas, Hideyoshi, spurred on by pagan monks, issued an edict prescribing death for the Catholic Father Baptist, priests in the land. together with 23 other priests and brothers, was that day cast into prison. Shortly after the New Year celebrations had been concluded they were bound, loaded three to a wagon, and taken out to be shown to the people of the city. Catholics followed that sad procession, praying aloud in spite of the orders of the guards, declaring that they, too, were ready to suffer death rather than deny their Faith. Pagans. touched by this evidence of Faith, show. ed great respect to the prisoners. Father Baptist was in the first wagon, encouraging the others and preaching to them. Some of the prisoners told the crowds how fortunate they were to die on the
demned beheld, they saluted with deep Rising, they all sang the prostrations. "Te Deum" and meekly went to the cross on which each one's name had Here they were tied been inscribed. with ropes, the faces set toward the city. As he mounted his cross Father Baptist said quietly, "I don't want to be tied with this rope; nail me!" But Toward evenhis request was refused. ing the work of fastening the prisoners to the crosses was completed and two soldiers with spears were stationed at the sides of each cross. At a given signal the 26 holy martyrs were trans pierced. For 80 days the bodies were left exposed there, and at night the Christians would steal out to wipe up the precious blood and secure relics of the holy wood. Yet, in spite of the long delay the faces of the martyrs never changed. They were like sleeping angels. The birds of prey, as if respecting these holy tabernacles, did not come near, The Archbishop of Manila began the cause for beatification of the martyrs, and in June, 1862, with a concourse of more than 200,000 from all over the world, the 26 were canonised at St. Peter's in Rome. With the coming of Iemitsu as Dictator in Japan, a new and stronger effort was made to wipe out any remnants of Christianity. A reward of 1,000 pieces of silver was offered to anyone announcing the whereabouts of a Catholic priest; 100 pieces for reporting a Christian lay -person. Coupled with the internal persecutions, international jealousies between the Portuguese and Dutch merchants gave rise to many accusations. The Dutch, tainted with the new Protestantism, influenced the Dictator to such an extent that all foreigners, except the Dutch, were forContinued on Back Cover, Column 2.) t
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