On August 9th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, three days after doing the same on the city of Hiroshima.
An estimated 80,000 people died instantly as ground temperatures reached 4,000°C. The bomb detonated directly over Urakami Cathedral, the largest Catholic church in Asia. The Urakami district of Nagasaki was the historical heart of Japanese Christianity because of its large population of “Kakure Kirishitans” – Christians who secretly maintained their faith during centuries of persecution. By 1945, Urakami had the highest concentration of Christians in Japan. In a matter of seconds, much of this centuries-old Christian community was exterminated. Little did they know that as they paused to pray that morning in the cathedral, an American Catholic priest was offering a much different prayer on a small Pacific island 1,500 miles away. Stationed on Tinian Island as chaplain to the 509th Composite Group, Father George Zabelka prayed for and blessed the bombs that would turn Urakami Cathedral into the gates of Hell. Takashi Nagai was also on the ground that day. A radiation researcher and medical doctor working in Nagasaki when the atomic bomb changed his life, he offers this prayer for peace.
“Men and women of the world, never again plan war! With this atomic bomb, we can only mean suicide for the human race. From this atomic waste the people of Nagasaki confront the world and cry out: No more war! Let us follow the commandment of love and work together. The people of Nagasaki prostrate themselves before God and pray: Grant that Nagasaki may be the last atomic wilderness in the history of the world.”
The bells of Nagasaki continue to ring, calling Christians to our personal cathedrals this morning in an act of contrition and lament for our participation in empire.
(Source: Holy Heretic substack)
A faithful worship ritual
Following a short time of praise music, the church in Nagasaki pauses at 11:02 am, the time that the atomic bomb was dropped upon their city, to ring a peace bell and pray for seven things: “Peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our church, peace in Nagasaki, peace in Japan, peace in Asia, and peace in the world.” This simple, but profound act of faith occurs every single Sunday as they commit to seeking peace in every part of their lives and in every corner of the world. Let us follow the example of our sisters and brothers in Nagasaki and pray for peace in our hearts, homes, places of worship, cities, countries, continents, and world.
Prayers – no shortage of peace prayers available online.
