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August 9th, 1945
A brutal single act of violence
Was committed against the home of Christianity in the East
When American forces dropped an Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki, Japan
A thread on the background & impact it had on the East's most Catholic city
#CatholicTwitter
1/16
A brutal single act of violence
Was committed against the home of Christianity in the East
When American forces dropped an Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki, Japan
A thread on the background & impact it had on the East's most Catholic city
#CatholicTwitter
1/16
In 1549, Sain Francis Xavier arrived at Kagoshima in Japan
The great Jesuit brought with him teachings of Christ and the Catholic faith
The initial years of Japanese Christianity brought many baptisms and conversions
2/16
The great Jesuit brought with him teachings of Christ and the Catholic faith
The initial years of Japanese Christianity brought many baptisms and conversions
2/16
The Jesuits continued their success into the city of Nagasaki
So prolific were they in inspiring the Nagasaki people to follow Christ, that the area became known as 'Little Rome'
3/16
So prolific were they in inspiring the Nagasaki people to follow Christ, that the area became known as 'Little Rome'
3/16
The Japanese had converted to Catholicism in droves
130,000 converted by 1579
It was the largest non European ruled Christian nation
The Jesuits, joined by the Franciscans and Dominicans, had won over locals
But domestic tensions would soon impinge upon this success
4/16
130,000 converted by 1579
It was the largest non European ruled Christian nation
The Jesuits, joined by the Franciscans and Dominicans, had won over locals
But domestic tensions would soon impinge upon this success
4/16
A ban on the Jesuits in 1587 arose from Toyitomi Hideyoshi, hoping to stamp out the influence of Christianity and the Jesuits in particular, upon the Japanese
Incidents like the San Felipe, where it was alleged Jesuits were a precursor to invasion, made it worse
5/16
Incidents like the San Felipe, where it was alleged Jesuits were a precursor to invasion, made it worse
5/16
In 1597
The execution took place of the men who became the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki
Like our Blessed Lord, these men were crucified and pierced with spears
They were Franciscans and Jesuits
6/16
The execution took place of the men who became the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki
Like our Blessed Lord, these men were crucified and pierced with spears
They were Franciscans and Jesuits
6/16
In 1615, Christianity was completely prohibited from Japan and missionaries ordered to leave
Many stayed
Persecutions followed
On September 10th 1622, 56 Christians were burned alive or beheaded at Nagasaki
7/16
Many stayed
Persecutions followed
On September 10th 1622, 56 Christians were burned alive or beheaded at Nagasaki
7/16
The following centuries were bleak for Christians in Japan
Many tried to live their faith in secret but were forced to trample on an image of Christ or Mary once a year
8/16
Many tried to live their faith in secret but were forced to trample on an image of Christ or Mary once a year
8/16
Despite their great suffering and the lack of priests to say Mass
The underground Church of Nagasaki was a place where Christians kept their faith from generation to generation
Anywhere they could, they prayed
together
9/16
The underground Church of Nagasaki was a place where Christians kept their faith from generation to generation
Anywhere they could, they prayed
together
9/16
In 1865, after Japan had been reopened, a French priest by the name of Bernard Petitjean was approached by Christians
One of them whispered that she believed as he did and wished to see the Virgin Mary
Thr priest was stunned to find that they'd baptised for centuries
10/16
One of them whispered that she believed as he did and wished to see the Virgin Mary
Thr priest was stunned to find that they'd baptised for centuries
10/16
Most of the hidden Christians of that area were from the Village of Urakami
They decided to build a Cathedral on the grounds of the land where they had been forced to trample on Our Lady's image
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was the biggest in Asia
11/16
They decided to build a Cathedral on the grounds of the land where they had been forced to trample on Our Lady's image
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was the biggest in Asia
11/16
The Cathedral was completed in 1925
20 years later, 95% of Japan's now blossoming Catholic Church lived in Nagasaki
After 250 years of exile, Japanese Christians finally had reasons for optimism
12/16
20 years later, 95% of Japan's now blossoming Catholic Church lived in Nagasaki
After 250 years of exile, Japanese Christians finally had reasons for optimism
12/16
The United States had other plans for Japan's Christians
On August 9th 1945, as the local Catholics prepared for the Feast of Immaculate Conception, the pilots of the Boxscar were instructed to look for dropped the spire of the Cathedral as they dropped the 'Fatman' bomb
13/16
On August 9th 1945, as the local Catholics prepared for the Feast of Immaculate Conception, the pilots of the Boxscar were instructed to look for dropped the spire of the Cathedral as they dropped the 'Fatman' bomb
13/16
Under orders from Harry Truman, the United States dropped its 2nd Atom Bomb in 3 days
Fulton Sheen would later associate the viciousness of the atomic bomb attacks with the moral disorder of the world afterwards
14/16
Fulton Sheen would later associate the viciousness of the atomic bomb attacks with the moral disorder of the world afterwards
14/16
The bombing in Nagasaki happend at 11.02 am as many attended Mass
In the death toll
-8,500 of the 12,000 Christians
- 3 separate orders of nuns
- An entire Catholic school
15/16
In the death toll
-8,500 of the 12,000 Christians
- 3 separate orders of nuns
- An entire Catholic school
15/16
Christians now make up only 1% of the wider Japanese population
We can pray and hope that these near 500 years of suffering and hiding will reap many rewards for the descendants of Christians in centuries to come
A recent Mass in Nagasaki filmed by @remnantnews
16/16
We can pray and hope that these near 500 years of suffering and hiding will reap many rewards for the descendants of Christians in centuries to come
A recent Mass in Nagasaki filmed by @remnantnews
16/16
