• November 6th - Bl Alphonsus Navarrete, OP

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Nov 5 08:16:48 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    November 6th - Bl Alphonsus Navarrete, OP
    =C2 (1571-1617)

    Dominicans were the first missionaries to Japan, and 1530 is given as
    the date of their martyrdom. However, no conclusive proof exists
    regarding their names or number, and Saint Francis Xavier rightly
    holds the title of apostle to this island kingdom.

    Following in Xavier's footsteps came other missionaries, and, for
    about 40 years, they worked with great results among the people. Then,
    in the closing years of the century, persecution flared, and the blood
    of martyrs cried out with a louder voice than that of the preachers.

    The first Dominican to die in the great persecution was Alphonsus
    Navarrete. When Alphonsus was very young, he gave up his inheritance
    to enter the Dominican Order in Valladolid and, after he had completed
    his studies, was sent to the Philippine missions. The great
    persecution had just begun in Japan. The year before Alphonsus left
    Spain, a group of 26 Christians, including many Franciscans and three
    Japanese Jesuits, were crucified in Nagasaki.

    Despite the dangers, the Dominicans, who had been excluded from Japan
    for several years, yearned to go into the perilous mission field.
    Alphonsus in particular, after a trip to Europe to recruit
    missionaries in 1610, begged to be allowed to go to Japan. In the
    following year his offer was accepted and he was sent as superior of
    the missionary band. During the short interval of peace, they began
    their work, and, during six years of growing danger, they instructed
    the people and prepared them for the dreadful days to come.

    The missionary career of Alphonsus was brief, and it was always
    overshadowed by the threat of death that beset the Christians in that
    unhappy country. However, in the few years of his apostolate, his accomplishment was immeasurable. Like his Divine Master, he went about
    teaching and baptizing the people. He is called the =E2=80=9CVincent de Pau=
    l
    of Japan,=E2=80=9D because it was he who first began the tremendous task of caring for the abandoned babies there. He anticipated the work of the
    Holy Childhood Society by gathering up the homeless waifs and
    providing for their support from money he begged of wealthy Spaniards.

    The warning bell of the great persecution was sounded with the
    martyrdom in Omura of two priests, a Franciscan and a Jesuit. Alphonus Navarrete and his Augustinian companion Ferdinand went to Omura with
    the intention of rescuing the relics of the martyrs and consoling the Christians. They were captured on the way, and with a young native
    catechist, were beheaded. Their bodies were thrown into the sea.

    Five years later, on the hill of the holy martyrs of Nagasaki, more
    than 50 Christians sealed their faith with their blood. Some of the
    martyrs were beheaded, some were burned at the stake. In the group
    were nine Jesuits, including the famous Father Charles Spinola, SJ,
    nine Franciscans, and nine Dominicans, among whom were the Blesseds
    Alphonsus de Mena, Angelo Orsucci, and Hyacinth Orphanel. Louis
    Bertrand, a nephew of the saint of that same name, perished in the
    same persecution.

    Thousands of Japanese Christians, from tiny children to old
    grandparents, died amid terrible torments in the profession of their
    faith. The anger of the persecutors was turned against all priests,
    brothers, and catechists, tertiaries, and Rosarians, and they made
    fearful attempts to stamp out all traces of the hated religion in the
    country. Pope Pius IX, in 1867, solemnly beatified 205 of the martyrs,
    among whom were 59 Dominicans of the first and third orders and 58
    members of the Rosary Confraternity. Although all did not die at the
    same time nor place, they are listed under the name of Alphonsus
    Navarrete, who was the first to die.
    --By Matthew


    Bible Quote:
    4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there
    are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties
    of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.
    (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 )=C2 =C2 RSVCE

    <><><><>
    Prayer
    O God, in the triumph of blessed Alphonsus and his companions You give
    us joy. We pray You, to grant us through their merits and
    intercession, a like steadfastness in faith and fruitfulness in work.
    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns forever!

    <><><><>
    Meditation for troubled times:

    You should not dwell too much on the mistakes, faults, and failures of
    the past. Be done with shame and remorse and contempt for yourself.
    With God's help, develop a new self-respect. Unless you respect
    yourself, others will not respect you. You ran a race, you stumbled
    and fell, you have risen again, and now you press on toward the goal
    of a better life. Do not stay to examine the spot where you fell, only
    feel sorry for the delay, the shortsightedness that prevented you from
    seeing the real goal sooner.
    =C2 =C2 I pray that I may not look back. I pray that I may keep pickin=
    g
    myself up and making a fresh
    start each day.

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