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Leonardo Kimura
was a Japanese Catholic evangelist and teacher. Killed as a victim of anti-Catholic persecution in Japan, he was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867. Background The development of Christianity in Japan started in 1549 thanks to St. Francis Xavier. Years later, he encountered a number of problems. The growing number of followers changed the attitude of the authorities, who were afraid that their position would become weakened. Other reasons for the shoguns and daimyos to withdraw their support for the mission included the conflicts between Spanish and Portuguese merchants, as well as disputes between the missionaries themselves about methods of evangelization. All these factors led to further waves of persecution. After a period of increased missionary activity by the Catholic Church, it is estimated that 400,000 people professed this religion in Japan in 1613. That year, the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada issued a decree under which, under the threat of losing their lives, all mission ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beatification
Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the plural form, referring to those who have undergone the process of beatification; they possess the title of "Blessed" (abbreviation "Bl.") before their names and are often referred to in English as "a Blessed" or, plurally, "Blesseds". History Local bishops had the power of beatifying until 1634, when Pope Urban VIII, in the apostolic constitution ''Cœlestis Jerusalem'' of 6 July, reserved the power of beatifying to the Holy See. Since the reforms of 1983, as a rule, one miracle must be confirmed to have taken place through the intercession of the person to be beatified. Miracles are almost always unexplainable medical healings, and are scientifically investigated by commissions comprising physicians and theologia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
