

During the Edo period, Christianity was banned from
Japan. During the banishment many Christians were martyred because of their
faith. In Yonezawa, 53 Christians were killed. The thing that was different
about Yonezawa is that these 53 people walked to their death voluntarily.
Because of their kindness and love that they gave to others in the village they
were respected. Non-Christians lined the streets to honor these men and women
as they walked to their death. It wasn’t until 300 years later that they were
officially recognized for the sacrifice they made. Now in Yunozawa there is a
memorial to honor these men, women, and children that died for their faith. Once we finished making our own lanterns we went to this memorial. It was
dark out and there was too much snow for us to actually walk up to the
memorial. But the story of these people and examples they left were not lost on us. We
walked back to the car in silence, maybe all pondering the same thought “if we
were them what would we have done?”
We finished out the night by walking around the actual festival and then eating a delicious meal at the church. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.
Thanks for tuning in!
Katie
Food for thought- what would I do. Sometimes life hands you with the joy along with the pain. I don't think I am that brave.
ReplyDeletelove MoM
Wow!! That's a lot of snow! Sounds like a meaningful trip.
ReplyDeleteThat's looks like so much fun in the snow and such a good ministry helping them clear their church of snow.
ReplyDeleteThe Christian martyrs are remembered on the Anglican calendar on Feb 5th, commemorating the day the Christians in Nagasaki were crucified in 1597. Here is the prayer said that day:
O God our Father, source of strength to all your saints, who Brought the holy martyrs of Japan through the suffering of the cross to the joys of life eternal: Grant that we, being encouraged by their example, may hold fast the faith we profess, even to death itself; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/32.html