United States Bishops say No to Reiki

I say its about time they released a statement on it too!  In the U.S it seems that even religious (meaning monks and nuns) practice Reiki at hospitals, even Catholic hospitals, and also at retreats held at their monasteries & convents.   For an example of nuns promoting Reiki  see this site.

There are plenty of articles on this subject out there so I would suggest reading the press release and document in question directly from the USCCB`s site to start.  click here

In Japan Reiki is not practised in hospitals as far as I and those I asked know.  I have also never heard of any churches or religious promoting it I think because they have a very different view on such practises compared to people in other countries.  Here Reiki isn’t exotic, and one (non Catholic) friend called it a fraud.

Young Catholics Increasingly Conservative

Well I could have said that but the publication Our Sunday Visitor has an article saying it anyway.

Catholic young people seek to usher in era of faithfulness and activism

Raised in a culture of moral relativism and individuality, today’s young Catholic generation is turning toward the faith in search of truth, purpose and a sense of belonging.

I think the part about seeking truth is the most important.  There is so much relativism out there I think people are getting sick of it and saying there are truths I must find them.

Unlike their parents’ generation, studies have shown that Catholics in their late teens to mid-20s are embracing more conservative values and a greater interest in the traditional aspects of their Church.

Definitely thats me!

“Those young adults who are grounded in their faith generally are more morally and socially conservative than their peers and, frequently, than their own parents,” said Colleen Carroll Campbell…

Yes I guess compared to my friends, siblings,  and others my age I am quite conservative, however, my parents and I are in agreement with the Catholic Church on thorny social issues so there`s no disagreement there.

Here is the rest of the article.

I just came across this article which I think ties in nicely with the previous article.

Thirty-year-old Mother Superior leads Australian ‘John Paul II sisters’

Perth, Australia, Mar 24, 2009 / 09:41 pm (CNA).- After experiencing a deep conversion, a former lawyer who had a good job and “partied a lot” is now Mother Superior of a new religious order of “John Paul II sisters” in Australia.

With two other sisters, the 30-year-old Sister Bernadette founded the Missionaries of the Gospel (MGs) in June 2007 in hopes of helping men and women “encounter Christ and live the Gospel,” their website says.

According to the West Australian, the sisters chose to wear a traditional habit and to take new names when they made their vows.

Interesting how the young nuns like an actual habit, and the orders that wear such habits have the most new vocations.  Meanwhile the now elderly nuns who tossed out their habits have very few if any new vocations in their orders.  By their fruits you will know them I guess.

The Man Who survived Both Atomic Bombs

A 93-year-old Japanese man has become the first person to be officially recognised as a survivor of both atomic bombs dropped on Japan by the United States at the end of the Second World War.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi had already been a certified hibakusha, or radiation survivor, of the Aug 9, 1945, atomic bombing in Nagasaki. But officials have now confirmed that he also survived the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier.

Mr Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug 6, 1945, when a US B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He then returned to his home in Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, officials said.

article here

back up article here in case the first link doesnt work

Some people may consider him unlucky others lucky I just think it was God`s plan for him that he not die at that time.  I had read a more detailed account of his story earlier and now cant find the link but if I do I will post it.

Sanctus in Japanese

I know its not perfect, the audio quality could be better and so on but here it is the first of many videos I plan on putting up.

The words are as follows.

Kansha no sanka (the name in Japanese)

Sei naru kana,

sei naru kana,

sei naru kana bangun no Kami naru Shu,

Shu no eiko wa tenchi ni mitsu.

Ten no ito tataki tokoro ni hozanna.

Homu-beki kana, Shu no na ni yoritekitaru mono.

Ten no ito tataki tokoro ni hozanna

Shimabara Rebellion

I`ve only recently learned that the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637 involved Catholics.  I had heard the name before but dismissed it as one of the many civil wars that were popular here, which didn’t interest me,  but now I want to know more.  If anyone knows of reliable sources such as websites and books please comment!  I have never been to that area and so had no idea that the statue of the rebel leader Amakusa Shiro looks like the photo Ive included as I’m not used to seeing warriors depicted wearing a cross.  For a much bigger version see here

Chief Vatican envoy visits Nagasaki

source

NAGASAKI (Kyodo) Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican’s foreign minister, laid flowers Sunday at the monument marking ground zero of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

Mamberti visited the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum before laying flowers at the monument in the Nagasaki Peace Park.

He said he prayed for the many people who lost their lives in the bombing, for those who lost their loved ones and for those who are still suffering from the aftereffects of the bombing.

Mamberti said violence and destruction must not be allowed to continue, and stressed the need for peace to create a future of sympathy and prosperity.

Pope willing to meet PM Aso & Might Come to Japan

ROME (Kyodo) Pope Benedict XVI would be willing to meet with Prime Minister Taro Aso, a Catholic, if he requests it, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See Dominique Mamberti said Thursday.

Aso could meet the pope during a planned visit to Italy in July to attend a Group of Eight summit.

The last meeting between a pope and a Japanese prime minister took place in 1999, when the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi met the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

If a meeting of the pope and Aso is realized, they could discuss the pope’s possible visit to Japan, Mamberti told a group of reporters.

source

My favorite part is the last line

If a meeting of the pope and Aso is realized, they could discuss the pope’s possible visit to Japan, Mamberti told a group of reporters.

That would be fantastic if the pope could come here!  I would definitely be at any and every event he was at too.  I saw him in Rome last year so it would be nice if he could return the favor by coming here    I just have one request and that would be for the pope to have a mass or something in Tokyo too because usually Nagasaki gets to have all the fun.

Japanese Foster Parents

Hachioji, JAPAN – Yoko Sakamoto remembers well the prejudice she faced as a foster mother.

She and her husband, Koichi, who were childless, decided to expand their family by welcoming foster children. But when their first son had major problems in elementary school, the criticism started.

Some parents whispered about the different family names. One waited for the boy after school and slapped him for the “nuisance” he caused. Even Mrs. Sakamoto’s own parents criticized the decision. “We were facing a fierce storm of discrimination,” she says.

When the Sakamotos let their son skip school because of stress, officials removed him, sending him to institutional care.

But the couple didn’t give up. Today, their home in this quiet Tokyo suburb reverberates with the energy of five children, ages 4 to 15. And the government is looking for more people like them.

full article

Unusual Events 4

For parts 1-3 look on the right side of the page for the about me category.

Summer 2005 my Mom and one of my brothers are visiting me.  My Mom bro and a couple of Japanese friends are sightseeing one weekend and one place we go is Tokyo city hall because it has a free observation floor on the 45th floor or so.   We were having a good time taking photos, eating ice cream, and just enjoying the view on that clear sunny day when suddenly I felt an intense urge to leave there ASAP.  Everyone wanted to linger more but I insisted, so we got the elevator and went to the main floor.  Less than five minutes later while browsing around a small gift shop/ tourist info center the strongest earthquake to hit Tokyo in thirteen years hits.  article The elevators stopped running, as is their design, trapping people for over an hour.  By less than five minutes we avoided being stuck on the 45th floor  or worse stuck in a elevator.  My Mom was very frightened by the quake and she was only on the first floor so if she had been back on the observation floor, which is designed to sway tremendously, or in the elevator she would have been terrified.

I have no doubt that I have a guardian angel and that day he guided us to safety.

Lilies of the Field

This is a 1963 movie starring Sidney Poitier a role which he won best actor for at the Academy Awards.   The movie is a heartwarming story about 5 immigrant nuns from Eastern Europe praying for years for a miracle to happen … and then Sidney Poitier appears to be sent to them to help them build their dream … a chapel in the desert.

Since I am in Japan and its not likely the local video store has this to rent I found it on youtube click here to watch.  It is in nine parts so it is a bit annoying to have to keep switching pages after each video, and it isn’t dvd quality but inspite of all that I suggest taking the time to watch.  If you still aren’t sure at least watch the first ten minutes which I have posted below.