”There are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost selves?”
—St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe
Why We Feel Called
The People of Japan Need The Message of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Just as with the United States and the rest of the world, the Japanese people suffer from a great spiritual poverty, the greatest of all forms of poverty. While the Word of God suffers in developed countries in the West, it has virtually been stamped out in Japan, despite being a land that was once fertile and receptive to becoming overwhelmingly Catholic.
With the decline of religions like Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan, people are searching for answers to the meaning of their lives, but all they are offered is work and materialism. Both of these areas can be vessels of God’s goodness, but they are unsustainable as eternal pursuits for finding joy. Only the Truth revealed to us by Jesus can inspire people to lead better lives.
Our Lady assures us that only the graces she distributes on behalf her Son, Jesus, is the path to attaining salvation. Our suffering has redemptive value, and it takes faith in Jesus who suffered on the Cross and his Mother, Mary, who suffered the sight of her son’s death for us to follow along that same path with a joyful heart.
COVID and
Spiritual Poverty
One of the most prevalent issues in Japanese society is the rate of suicide. For much of its history, it was the leading country in suicide rates, despite being one of the most developed and having the greatest health and longevity of anyone in the world. Suicide is considered the point of ultimate despair and an irreversible path of visible spiritual poverty.
Although Japan is known for its ものづくり (Monozukuri) — devoted work ethic to growing in perfection — many of them struggle to maintain that identity without high spirits.
With so many who live such long lives, how is it that still so many have decided to take their own?
The Catechism explains that “Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God” (CCC 2281).
Already bereft of opportunities for marriage and starting families, many Japanese men and women especially experience despair. Coupled with a stringent education and work culture, stress accumulates without any home or family to return to other than one’s own individual dwelling. This increases feelings of anxiety, depression, and a host of other spiritual afflictions.
Sadly, as a result of the ongoing isolation and fear surrounding the spread of COVID, suicide rates have increased exponentially, particularly among females. Since the virus has exacerbated these spiritual problems to a greater degree, it is all the more vital that they receive the love, hope, and truth that only Christ Himself can offer, and the Blessed Mother is the surest way to bringing others into that tender, manifold spiritual affirmation each of their children deserves.
https://www.cbcj.catholic.jp/english/japan/history
Monozukuri – Japanese Work Ethics | AllAboutLean.com
Covid and suicide: Japan's rise a warning to the world? - BBC News
Catechism of the Catholic Church - The fifth commandment (vatican.va)
A Look at the Catholic Church in Japan
Religious beliefs in Japan are a mixed bag. A majority may identify as Shinto-Buddhist or non-Religious. Dr. Eric Cunningham, a Professor of History at Gonzaga University and a specialist in modern Japanese intellectual history, claims that the ‘Religion’ of the Japanese people is ‘being Japanese.’ The Japanese that are practicing Catholics tend to take their faith very seriously as it is extremely countercultural (CWR). Collectively, there are 260 Catholic Churches in Japan (FCC).
Overall, there are at least 509,000 Catholics of the 128 million people living in Japan (NCR). As late as 2014, Japanese Catholics represent .035 percent of the population.
There is currently a national population crisis, as less than one million babies were born in Japan within the last decade (CWR). As far back as 2012, 38.9% of Men and 59.4% of Women in the minority percentile are considered Lay Catholic. Of these men and women, 76% marry non-Catholics (CBCJ) .
The remaining 1.7% have responded to a Religious Vocation.
Seibo Maria Mission desires to increase the faith, hope, and love of the Japanese people after they have suffered many tremendous trials in their faith and culture. By spreading the Gospel message of truth and life, we believe that our work will inspire others to adopt the Christian message in a land overtaken by cultural and religious despair.
Statistics | カトリック中央協議会 (catholic.jp)
Japanese bishops: Vatican mindset doesn't fit Asian church | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)
Attending Mass in Japanese | Franciscan Chapel Center (franciscanchapelcentertokyo.org)
Catholicism in the Land of the Rising Sun (and declining population) – Catholic World Report