Card. Amato with the mascot of Takayama Ukon, new Blessed

By joint service of Mr. Chihiro Okawa, Don Bosco Past Pupil (Osaka - Seiko Gakuin)

and Fr. Achille Loro Piana, SDB

Osaka, Japan, 8 February 2017 -- Yesterday the beatification ceremony of Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon was held in my hometown of Osaka, so I felt very much honored. The ceremony was so multicultural! More than 20 Cardinals and Bishops from different countries attended. Also the liturgy was composed of prayers and songs in different languages including Latin, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Italian and English. That expresses richness of the faith of Catholic Church, especially in Japan and Osaka. I was really very deeply moved.

Our beloved late Bishop Francis Mizobe, SDB told just two years ago: "Through a lot of challenges and difficulties, Justo experienced conversion. Under the persecution, he has chosen freely the glory of God, not secular wealth and honor as a local lord. And he lived everyday sincerely and calmly with prayers and kindness to the others. Without execution, he slowly got martyred. Justo shows us that to be a martyr is not only to die because of execution, but also with prayers to live a life sincerely everyday for the Lord Jesus, ourselves and the others. That is a great message to today's Catholics who don't face constant persecution."

In the Osaka-Jo Sports Hall were present also many members of the Salesian Family of Japan, SYM members, SDB Aspirants accompanied by their formators. Also the main celebrant Cardinal Angelo Amato, SDB appreciate very much a successful celebration, that was followed thanks to the live Internet broadcasting in Japan and around the world.

In the same time the NHK (National Television of Japan) dedicated a lot of time in their evening news prime time during past few days. Cardinal Amato was interviewed by the NHK Television also for a simple reason, that the NHK announcer is also a Seiko Gakuin (Salesian High School in Osaka) Don Bosco Past Pupil.

Today morning was held the Thanksgiving Mass in the Osaka Cathedral of Mother of God, tomorrow morning another Thanksgiving Mass in Kanazawa (Carmelite Parish) where Blessed Justo spent last years before his exile in Manila. On Friday evening the last large Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated in the St. Ignatius Church in Yotsuya, Tokyo.

The Beatification raised a visibility of the Catholic community in Japan with an echo also in the secular politic life. Mons. Paul Gallagher, the Holy See Secretary for the relationship with the States was present and met also the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Also many Japan politicians showed their keen interest and joy.

Yes, we firmly believe that this Beatification is not the GOAL but a START to reform the spirituality of us, and the whole Catholic Church in Japan. We hope this Universal Church event of Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon will provide us with new energy and enthusiasm in the Catholic community of Japan and in the hearts of Japanese Christians.

Thanks be to God!

Blessed Justo TAKAYAMA Ukon, pray for us!

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