Story of the principal
Japanese 26 saint
2011-02-01
The Catholic Church celebrates it in commemoration of "Japanese 26 saint" on February 5. In 1549, Christianity was introduced into Japan by St. Francisco rust L, but, telling you opened in the various parts of Japan, and ni, many believers were born for a while afterwards. Hideyoshi Toyotomi ruled Japan, but the large-scale persecution was not performed in those days because I respected utility for Western trade although an early Christianity in Japan exile law was promulgated.
However, triggered by sun Felipe case, a prohibited religion law was given again. I caught a propagator and the Christian who lived in Kyoto for the reason of having carried out a provocative activity, and an order was given to execute it. And believer, 24 people were regarded as a propagator. As for them, the left earlobe was cut off in Kyoto, and the city was taken. I received the order that I executed in Nagasaki, and the party left to Nagasaki on foot afterwards on January 10, 1597. Two people who went together to take care were arrested and became 26 people afterwards. Three boys, the youngest 12-year-old rudobiko, Ibaraki, 13-year-old Antonio, 14-year-old Thomas, Kozaki are included in these 26 people.
I go down Sanyo Expressway, and the party goes to Kyushu in severe cold. On January 20, Thomas, Kozaki wrote down a letter to the brothers with mother whom Ise had in Mihara. The encouraging "that we kept faith firmly and would encounter again in heaven" was written. Poor, small rudobiko thinks on seeing what Ibaraki is in a party, and, in severe cold, the government official who saw the party who finishes a hard trip, and arrived in Nagasaki was going to help you with the proviso that I throw away faith, but rudobiko declines politely this proposal. On seeing 26 crosses put up to Nishisaka who became the place of execution, 26 faces shined. It was about 10:00 that both sides were pierced by a spear and became a martyr while it sang prayer and a hymn severally. Though stay-at-home order was given in order to avoid confusion, I am told that the people more than 4,000 gathered there.
They were known by propagators such as Luis Frois who played an active part in Japan in Europe. On June 8, 1862, 26 people who proved love to yes were performed a successive emperors of by martyrdom and were added to a saint, and it was money offered to God of the faith in Japan. It is the first people who made martyrdom (gave a life) by the reason of Christian faith in Japan. The blood which they drained becomes the Christian basis in current Japan.
Principal Kinuko Asahiro