00:00In 16th-century Japan, a period of fierce persecution against Christians,
00:06One woman stood steadfast in her faith, Ines Takeya, better known as Ines of Nagasaki.
00:16Married to Léon Takeya, also a devout Christian, Inès lived her faith discreetly but deeply.
00:24like so many others in that era when adherence to Christ was an act of daily bravery.
00:30When Toyotomi Hideyoshi's authorities launched their brutal campaign against Christians,
00:37Inès and her husband were arrested in Osaka.
00:40This was only the beginning of an unimaginable ordeal.
00:44Along with 24 other companions, including Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, as well as other Japanese laypeople,
00:52Inès was forced to undertake a grueling and humiliating march.
00:57Over nearly a thousand kilometers, from distant Kyoto to Nagasaki,
01:02This group endured the cold, hunger, and the incessant mockery of the crowd.
01:08But throughout this ordeal, Inès never gave up.
01:13His dignity, serenity, and unwavering faith were a powerful testimony.
01:20visible to all those who crossed her path on that long road.
01:24On February 5, 1597, on Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki, the martyr arrived.
01:32Ines of Nagasaki, her husband Leo and the 24 other companions were crucified.
01:39She was one of the three women in this iconic group,
01:43showing that the persecution spared no one
01:45and that courage knew neither age nor gender.
01:50His sacrifice, alongside his brothers and sisters in faith,
01:54sealed the blood of Japan's first martyrs,
01:57sowing the seeds of a church which, despite persecution,
02:01would become deeply rooted in secrecy.
02:05Today, Ines of Nagasaki is celebrated as a shining example of perseverance and loyalty.
02:12She embodies the strength of secular faith,
02:15the ability of an ordinary person to accomplish the extraordinary in the face of the most extreme adversity.
02:22His memory reminds us of the importance of defending our convictions.
02:26and the dignity of faith, even at the risk of our lives.
02:31Inès of Nagasaki is a timeless source of inspiration.
02:35for all those who seek to live their faith with unwavering courage,
02:40no matter what trials life throws their way.
02:42Discover the Sanctus app, available on iOS and Android.
02:51THANKS.
Commentaires