Real Missionary
Venerable Father Vincenzo Cimatti is known to many Japanese people for his musical talent,
but in fact his fundamental characteristic was that he was a true missionary.
Father Vincenzo Cimatti was a man of the very spirit of Don Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Society.
"Da mihi animas" ("Give me the power to bring people's hearts to meet the Lord") was at the core of his being.
Although he gave many musical concerts, he always introduced himself as a missionary,
appearing in public wearing the black cassock that missionaries wore at the time and sporting a full beard.
Here is what he himself said about him:
"My desire is to share the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ with the Japanese people and to help in educating the youth."
Evangelical Missionary Activities
So, how is the work of evangelism remembered?
When he first arrived in Japan, Fr. Cimatti kept in touch with the missionaries already working there,
learning from them and sharing his methods with them: music, companionship, joy, and love.
The missionaries said, "Fr. Cimatti brought fresh air and energy to the mission."
He showed respect and consideration to those in authority at all levels, religious and political,
and tried to make many friends by inviting them to his home and visiting them himself, again following Don Bosco's advice:
"Show fear, respect and love to those in authority."
Indeed, the authorities in the places where he worked adored Father Cimatti, even though they had different views.
Using slides, which were popular in the Catholic Church at the time, he made up for his poor Japanese
and shared the gospel with people both young and old, captivating them at meetings and in their homes.
But Father Cimatti was particularly committed to evangelization through the use of printed matter, as he expressed in these words:
"In Japan, printing is a powerful weapon, for better or worse."
Even though his Japanese was still imperfect, he quickly wrote a short biography of Don Bosco and introduced it throughout Japan,
sending it to all the Japanese authorities and all the missionaries of the time.
A small task according to the Lord's will
In 1930, he founded a publishing company in Oita and published a monthly leaflet called "Don Bosco...it's a mustard seed,"
and decided to write the opening words. This publishing company moved to Tokyo in 1935 and became the current "Don Bosco Company."
In 1931, the Catholic Church in Japan launched the Catholic Newspaper, which Father Cimatti made available to all missionaries,
believers, and non-believers in his mission fields.
He wrote about his work:
"Concerts, writing about Christianity, mentoring Salesians, and finding a way to live in Japan have all been small tasks for me, in the Lord's will."
Finally, I would like to quote the words of Father Arrupe of the Society of Jesuits.
"I admire Father Vincenzo Cimatti's love, kindness and apostolic passion. His example must be known as a shining example for missionaries in Japan."
Cimatti Museum Father Marsilio
July 6, 2022
Go to the index page of Father Cimatti's life
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