AsiaNews: The Japanese Church has finished preparing the application for the beatification of Takayama Ukon, a feudal lord or daimyo who, after his conversion, played a pioneering role in the spread of Christianity in Japan in the 16th century.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan presented a 400-page application to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with all the relevant information about the case. The bishops hope to celebrate the new Blessed in 2015, the 400th anniversary of his death.
Takayama Ukon was born in 1552 in what is now Osaka Prefecture to Takayama Tomoteru, lord of Sawa Castle. When he turned 12, his father converted taking the name of Darius whilst he was baptised with the name of Justo. Read more here.
