Holy Martyrs of Japan Catholic Church

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us 💔

The Catholic Church dedicates the month of September to Our Lady of Sorrows, a title that honors Mary’s deep suffering as she shared in the Passion of her Son.

This devotion roots itself in Simeon’s prophecy at the Presentation in the Temple. In Luke’s Gospel, the elderly prophet tells Mary that a sword will pierce her own soul. The Church invites the faithful to reflect especially on the seven traditional sorrows of Mary: Simeon’s prophecy, the flight into Egypt, the loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the taking down of Jesus’ body from the Cross, and His burial.

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows falls on September 15, the day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. During the month, many Catholics pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary. This devotion, said to have been revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century, focuses on Mary’s sufferings. Instead of five decades, it includes seven, with seven Hail Marys after each sorrow.

By meditating on Mary’s sorrows, the faithful draw closer to Christ and find strength in their own trials. September becomes a time to walk with the Mother of Sorrows and entrust personal sufferings to her compassionate heart.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us! 🙏

09/02/2026

SEPTEMBER IS THE SEASON OF CREATION

In the letter of Paul the apostle to the Romans, the biblical image pictures the Earth as a Mother, groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8:22). Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used.

And yet, there is hope and the expectation for a better future. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amidst the struggles. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life springs forth.

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

These four men once walked the halls of Valle Catholic High School in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. Today, they are walking together on a life-changing journey, discerning God's call to the priesthood at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary!

From left to right (with graduation years): Grayson McGowan ’26, Tommy Otte ’18, Jacob Trautman ’15, and Xavier Darian ’26.

08/27/2026