MANILA, Philippines — In the halls of the gothic-style Oura Cathedral, a story of a “miracle” unfolded in 1865 when three women mustered the strength to march to the priest and utter the words: “We have the same heart as you.”
Their confession uncovered the existence of “hidden Christians” who went underground for 250 years during the Catholic holocaust in Japan.
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The women were said to be dissuaded by their neighbors from going which was only natural at that time since it might be a trap set by the watchful Tokugawa Shogunate, the de facto rulers at the order of the emperor.
Although Japan has re-opened itself to the world again after a centuries-long seclusion policy, Christianity was still forbidden.
There was a time, however, when the religion thrived, particularly in Nagasaki, the Catholic heart of Japan.
The seeds of the religion spread in the country when Portuguese traders arrived in Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, southwest of Tokyo, in 1543. Their arrival signaled Japan’s first contact with the West.
The traders brought with them gunpowder and later missionaries. Catholicism rapidly converted tens of thousands on the island of Kyushu, including powerful feudal lords, some of whom only interested in the new weapons and profits from the trade.
The growing religion was soon seen as a threat by Japanese leaders who implemented a crackdown.
For over two centuries there were no priests in Japan. The country has isolated itself from the rest of the world and Christians were being hunted down by the shogunate. If found, torture awaits and to those who would not recant, death.
Some of those captured had their ears or noses cut off, a common form of public humiliation, and paraded. Death could be by crucifixion, drowning or getting thrown into boiling hot springs that can cause third-degree burns in seconds.
Some of the torture and execution methods were depicted in the Martin Scorsese film “Silence,” which was based on Shusaku Endo’s masterpiece novel by the same name.
Still, many risked their lives strongly believing that the Christian God is the one true God who brings salvation in the next life.
They went to caves or in secret rooms inside their homes to celebrate Catholic feasts while outwardly pretending to be Buddhist or Shinto practitioners.
Virgin Mary statues were disguised as Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and Jesus as Buddha. Those living in isolated islands used bizarre items as objects of their Catholic devotion like abalone shells with patterns likened to the image of the Virgin Mary.
The absence of priestly guidance meant Japanese Catholics were left to their own devices. They recited the orasho, prayers which are a mix of Portuguese, Latin and Japanese, whose words metamorphosed due to the oral tradition it was passed down to the younger generation.
Words in the prayers changed like Ave Maria which became Abe Maruya and Amen Jesus which became Anmen Riyusu.
Even after the lifting of the religious ban in 1873, descendants of “hidden Christians” continued to pass down these unique traditions. And the doors of Oura Cathedral, Japan’s oldest standing Christian Church, remains open to this day to welcome pilgrims seeking to learn about the extraordinary story that unfolded on the island of Kyushu.
Here are the 12 “hidden Christian” spots recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage sites.
Remains of Hara Castle
Hara Castle became a grave site for around 37,000 peasants, mostly Christians, who were killed after a failed rebellion in 1637 over high taxation and religious persecution.
The rebellion had triggered the establishment of Japan’s policy of isolation which prevented Portuguese ships from smuggling missionaries into the country. Japanese Catholics had no choice but to practice their faith in hiding without the guidance of priests.