In 1856, the roundup of Christians, called “Urakami Sanban Kuzure” (The Third Collapse of Urakami) took place and many died due to the torture. Most of the Christian leaders also died in the roundup. Although the case was settled in 1860, a great courage and serious determination was required to visit the French temple the only five years later. “What if the foreigner at the French temple was not a priest…” “We are under the rigorous surveillance of the government officials, what would happen if we become suspected…” If things go wrong, they may be caught and killed. However, Yuri did not give up, saying “I do not mind being killed if I could meet the priest.” After all, 12-15 people including Clara Teru -Yuri’s sister who is active and have unyielding disposition, her husband, Yuri’s son-in-law, and children were gathered to go to the French temple because they were uneasy to send a serene Yuri alone.
In the early afternoon on Friday, March 17, 1865, the party arrived at the French temple. When Priest Bernerd Petitjean opened the gate, they entered into the chapel pretending to be ordinary visitors. While Priest Petitjean knelt down besides the altar and prayed, Yuri approached to him and said “Our heart is same as yours.” It was the historical moment of “the revival of Christians” after 250 years.
Among the concealed Christians, the gesture to strike a breast with the right hand was used as a code to show that their heart is the same. Probably Yuri’s word was accompanied by this code. And the faith and hope which had been entrusted from generation to generation must have been burning within the breast that Yuri struck. Within this serene woman, the strength which does not fear death for faith was hidden. And I cannot help wrapping her over to the women who followed Jesus to the last moment under the cross.
After this incident, Christians of Urakami came to the priest and professed their faith one after another and received guidance from them. But in 1867, two years after, believers refused to call a Buddhist priest at funerals and said that they want to break off with their family temple. Taking root in this, the last and great persecution called “Urakami Yonban Kuzure” (The Fourth Collapse of Urakami, in which whole residents of Urakami were banished) took place. What surprised me is that people who hid their faith secretly over 250 years had changed to express their faith openly. It must have given them extraordinary joy when they saw that the missionaries were really sent to them after seven generations, as it was stated in the prophecy of Bastian which they had passed on with faith. And their faith may have strengthened further through receiving direct guidance from the missionaries. However, it was a desperate confession of a farmer woman that triggered to brace up the faith of these concealed Christians.
The day of “the discovery of believers” or “revival of Christians” was also the day that the faith of concealed Christians was renewed and kindled. So it could also be called the day of "revival of faith." As the women disciples who followed the Lord Jesus to the last moments could first meet the resurrected Lord, Yuri, who confessed her faith desperately in the middle of Christian suppression was able to see the fulfillment of God’s promise, which was given through Bastian. And I feel God’s providence for it had taken place during the advent (40 days before the Easter) of about 140 years ago.
(Miriam Yamamoto is responsible for the wording of this article.)