The bell of the Urakami Cathedral rang at 6 pm on Christmas Eve 1945. A college professor writes about Takashi Nagai (1908-1951) in the Catholic Times. Nagai and his colleagues found the bell in the ruins of the cathedral and hung the bell on wooden hangers, announcing the time for Christmas Eve prayer. This layman, who led the small but strong Catholic Church community, became well known the world over.
Takashi Nagai was a Catholic layman, a physician who practiced radiology and love for humanity He was not only a victim of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki but wrote a great deal about his Christian faith and gospel spirit up until his death.
Dr. Nagai was originally an atheist, but married Midori, the daughter of the owner of the house in which he lodged. Chokada was a seventh generation descendent of the Hidden Christians of Nagasaki. The doctor became interested in Christianity while lodging in the house of this lay leader (Chokada), and was baptized.
The young Nagai, had been diagnosed with leukemia, and was given only two or three years to live. He told his wife painfully of the diagnose. Midori, after kneeling and praying for a while, said: "You have devoted all of your life to important things, and your efforts were for the glory of God." Upon hearing Midori's tearful sincerity, Nagai confessed that he was delighted to have obtained a "new life."
Dr. Nagai lost his wife in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and as he slowly continued to die, he reflects that his young son and daughter are soon to be raised without parents. And writes: "When your sorrows overcome you, weep with all your heart. But let your heart be turned toward God. He will give you true comfort and wipe away your tears." In the heart of this dying parent, it's no wonder he found comfort in the Beatitudes and hope facing death. The writer was deeply moved in reading about the last days of Dr. Nagai.
Do we live like a Dr. Nagai with a profound confession of faith? Many of the young Catholics in Korea nowadays say they do not baptize their children so that they can "choose their own religion" when they grow up. Why does the normal child live a life-long battle to live up to the parents' wishes and expectations, even though they did not choose their parents? Do they respect freedom for religion only? Our faith is not the object of choice! The problem is we have not tasted how wonderful and great the blessings to live and know Him who gave us life from the beginning and leads us to true happiness.
In a way, it is our fault in the way we have expressed the teachings of Jesus. Instead of sharing God's great love and compassion first, we talk about missing Mass on Sundays, and what is forbidden and emphasize only the external sacramental life! In our church pastoral practices, we need an awakening and fundamental improvement in what has been projected, so that love, grace and truthfulness can be shared before the accidentals.
This year, the church is celebrating the year of the laity. Our Korean Catholic history has many stories like those associated with Dr. Nagai. They shared a leadership in honoring and witnessing to the Lord with their lives even in the absence of priests. However, it is necessary to reflect on whether or not the role of the laity, who act in the church today, are recognized only as servants of the priests. Pope Francis emphasizes that we are all called to holiness. Priests should respect the 'call of the laity', struggling in the middle of the world and living the gospel—a holy and beautiful journey before God.
I do not know how many tears I shed during the pilgrimage to Japan last summer. The book about the life of Takashi Nagai: A Song for Nagasaki, the story of Takashi was introduced to the writer by a woman during the trip, who shared with him the joy of conversion. Listening to what some of the laity have done have invited him to a greater desire for holiness.
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