Catholic Tamatsukuri Church
Osaka-Takamatsu Cathedral St. Mary's Cathedral
Entrance
Entering the church through the entrance below the statue of the Immaculate Conception, you will find
yourself in the entrance hall (atrium).
The first thing you see here is the statue of the Crucifixion of Christ on the right wall. The body of Christ is made of marble. What is the meaning of the large cross that has been placed here since the foundation of this cathedral? When you enter the cathedral, you will see a large mural painting, “St. Mary in Glory,” at the
opposite side of the facade. We can now bask in its joy, but first we must remember that the prohibition of the Christian faith lasted as long as 350 years. During that time, people continued their devotion to the Virgin Mary by dressing her up as the Kannon (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy). Cardinal Paul Taguchi Yoshigoro, the builder of this cathedral, who himself is a descendant of these Christians, could not possibly have forgotten this period of suffering. This persecution of Christians began with the “Batenren Edict” (1587) issued by
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and continued for 350 years until the end of the Pacific War on August 15, 1945. The Great Cross was installed with those thousands and thousands of martyrs in mind. Also, that cross signifies what we need to do to avoid evil, to do good, and to maintain and realize peace. On the marble floor in front of this cross is the Greek word XP, meaning Christ (the Messiah), and a lamp of oil lit by fire. In this way, it is an invitation to accept Jesus on the cross as the Messiah and to kindle the fire in our hearts.
When you go outside after visiting this cathedral, do not miss the stained glass above the entrance. The
Virgin Mary is saying to you, “see you again,” flanked on either side by angels, with the Old Testament matriarch Esther on the right and Judith on the left.
Above the door to the cathedral, “tota pulchra es maria” is written in Latin. The words mean “Mary, youare beautiful in every way.”
As one is about to enter the church, the motto of Cardinal Yoshigoro Taguchi at the time of his ordination as a bishop is written in Latin: “Mater mea fiducia mea.” This means, “My Mother, my refuge.” The Christian faith is to bear the cross, but the Virgin is the support of the heart.
