Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - The Beatification of Peter Kassui Kibe and 187 other 17th century martyrs will be an important event for the Catholics of Japan. Fr Fuyuki Hirabaschi, secretary of the Japanese Bishops’ Conference recently announced that the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome has given its approval for the Beatification of the 188 men and women.
Mgr Junichi Nomura, President of the Bishops’ Conference and Mgr. Osamu Mizobe, head of the Beatification Commission sent the Congregation a petition signed by all the members of the Conference and also a personal letter to Pope Benedict XVI to express their joy.
Now they are waiting for the Holy Father to sign the decree and for it to be officially promulgated: and Japanese Catholics are praying intensely and planning the liturgical celebration.
Filipino theologian Jose Vidamor Yu, speaking about the martyrs of the Church in Asia, said: “The witness of faith of martyrs, exemplary Christians, contributed to the growth of the Church in Asia. Asians raised to the honour of the altars planted the faith in the depth of the oldest traditions and religions of the world. Their blood caused the Church to grow. Their martyrdom was a source of profound spiritual riches and a great means of evangelisation. The example of Christian martyrs is encouragement for missionaries tirelessly devoted to the work of evangelisation in Asia. Missionaries should draw inspiration from those who lived the essence of the Christian message. The vocation to martyrdom and witness is God’s gift to the individual, to the whole Church and to the whole of Asia”.
Japan’s martyrs include Paul Miki and companions Grazia Hosawaka, Ludivico Ibaragi, Michael Kozaki and Takayam Ukon. (Agenzia Fides 7/6/2006 righe 31 parole 324)
