Language

This brings us to language - the Japanese language. The very first step was, of course, learning to read, write and speak it. I say "of course," but some communitites did not see it as obvious, and the first members had to speak the language of the founders, if they could! Our founding Abbess spared nothing so that the Sisters would be able, to some degree to read, write and speak Japanese before any postulants entered. While most languages are meant to reveal, to convey information, Japanese has an inner/outer aspect that is perfectly suited to hide information.

In 1965, the vernacular was first used in the Mass, and everything became Japanese at once. The Divine Office took longer, but even from 1961, the founding Sisters had been chanting it in English, easier than Latin for the Japanese Sisters. Even now, the Japanese breviary is incomplete, and our number one work is translating the missing antiphons, responsories and lessons for solemnities, feasts and seasons. This is a superb means of education and formation in liturgy, scripture, theology, Church history and music, for we sometimes incorporate the beautiful Gregorian melodies where suitable.