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The Priests Who Survived Hiroshima
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:19 am
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:19 am
I had never heard of this story until earlier this week. It's quite amazing and a link to the full article is below the TL;DR version.
TL;DR Version
On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb flattened the city and killed tens of thousands instantly.
Near the center of Hiroshima stood a small rectory where eight Jesuit priests were praying a daily Fatima Rosary. Not only did the rectory survive the blast, but the priests suffered virtually no initial injuries and - despite being near the center of the atomic explosion - suffered no effects of the radiation, going on to live another 30+ years.
Telling his story many years later, Father Hubert Schiffer recounted the events as follows:
Father Schiffer attributed the sparing of their lives to his devotion to the Blessed Mother, and his daily Fatima Rosary. He feels that he received a protective shield from the Blessed Mother which protected him from all radiation and ill-effects.
Full Article
TL;DR Version
On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb flattened the city and killed tens of thousands instantly.
Near the center of Hiroshima stood a small rectory where eight Jesuit priests were praying a daily Fatima Rosary. Not only did the rectory survive the blast, but the priests suffered virtually no initial injuries and - despite being near the center of the atomic explosion - suffered no effects of the radiation, going on to live another 30+ years.
Telling his story many years later, Father Hubert Schiffer recounted the events as follows:
quote:
Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunder stroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me round and round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.
Father Schiffer attributed the sparing of their lives to his devotion to the Blessed Mother, and his daily Fatima Rosary. He feels that he received a protective shield from the Blessed Mother which protected him from all radiation and ill-effects.
Full Article
10
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:26 am to FearTheFish
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:28 am to FearTheFish
Legit csb
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:29 am to FearTheFish
Never heard this story. Thanks for posting.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:33 am to FearTheFish
quote:i mean.... look at that pic... the roof is gone, walls are gone..
Not only did the rectory survive the blast
yea its standing in a desolate area of destruction but Japanese construction at the time was flimsy bamboo frames and paper walls. Catholics always build heave stone masonry churches that last a long time.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:33 am to FearTheFish
Recently learned about this as well. Nagasaki had a sizeable Catholic population, and was actually the site of a mass martyring by crucifixion in like the 13th Century, iirc.
There are a number of macabre Catholic relics from the bombing. There is the "Atom-bombed Mary," which is the charred head of a Virgin Mary statue they pulled from the rubble, which is now on display in a Cathedral over there. There is also a museum which houses melted crucifixes which were warped by the heat of the blast and the fires.
There are a number of macabre Catholic relics from the bombing. There is the "Atom-bombed Mary," which is the charred head of a Virgin Mary statue they pulled from the rubble, which is now on display in a Cathedral over there. There is also a museum which houses melted crucifixes which were warped by the heat of the blast and the fires.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:37 am to FearTheFish
Never thought of Catholicism being spread in Japan.... apparantly its still active but very small > 1%.
Neat story though.. thanks for sharing.
Neat story though.. thanks for sharing.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:47 am to CarRamrod
quote:You can see other buildings standing as well. This was taken some time after because the streets are clear.
yea its standing in a desolate area of destruction but Japanese construction at the time was flimsy bamboo frames and paper walls. Catholics always build heave stone masonry churches that last a long time
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:50 am to FearTheFish
Catholics find any kind of way to put Mary on a pedestal. Didn't die in a nuclear bomb attack? Gotta be Mary cuz I said some prayer. 
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:54 am to tigafan4life
Jesus always listened to His mom, so if we ask her to ask Him, He’s gonna listen.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:55 am to tigafan4life
And non-Catholics always find a way to show a lack of understanding regarding Mary's veneration
Posted on 1/7/26 at 11:58 am to FearTheFish
CSB, to both you and GRT. 
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:16 pm to CarRamrod
quote:
rectory
You’re looking at the whole church. The rectory is the priest living quarters.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:26 pm to FearTheFish
Had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima a few months ago and see the A-Bomb Dome for myself.
Very surreal experience.
Very surreal experience.
This post was edited on 1/7/26 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:41 pm to GreenRockTiger
quote:
Jesus always listened to His mom, so if we ask her to ask Him, He’s gonna listen.
I never thought about it this way until you either said it in another thread or Father Carlos Martins said it in a podcast. It makes sense.
Especially in the light of His first miracle at the Wedding at Cana. This post was edited on 1/7/26 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:45 pm to dakarx
quote:The Portuguese sailors brought it there I believe
Never thought of Catholicism being spread in Japan
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:48 pm to lsupride87
quote:
The Portuguese sailors brought it there I believe
wrong!
Posted on 1/7/26 at 12:55 pm to GreenRockTiger
edited to not derail this thread
This post was edited on 1/7/26 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 1/7/26 at 1:25 pm to tigafan4life
quote:
Catholics find any kind of way to put Mary on a pedestal. Didn't die in a nuclear bomb attack? Gotta be Mary cuz I said some prayer.
well what's your erudite theory on their survival?
Posted on 1/7/26 at 1:32 pm to DecadePlusLurker
26 Martyrs of Japan (1597)
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