Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
(JMJ)
November – A Month of Remembrance
November, being dedicated to All Saints and All Souls’ Day, invites us to reflect with Fr. Wolff on this sacred time. He held deep reverence for both saints and souls. In Fr. Wolff’s writings, he shared the statistics of hosts in heaven, saying, “Jesus Christ is the Lord of hosts, served by thousands upon thousands of angels, and tens of thousands of saints. The martyrs alone number eleven million. If we were to honor every martyr, thirty thousand would be commemorated daily. Add to these the countless confessors, virgins, and other saints—what splendor and glory! Oh, how I long to be among them!” (Grondregels, 270)
Yes, we are called to follow the example of the saints, who lived as faithful servants in the Lord’s vineyard. They now stand before God as our intercessors in heaven, constantly praying for us. In this time of remembrance, we can turn to them—those who once walked the same earthly journey as we do now—and ask for their help to remain steadfast in our faith. Their lives inspire us, reminding us that the path to holiness is not beyond our reach, but one that can be lived in simple, everyday faithfulness.
As we honor all saints and souls this month, let us pause to remember not only the faithful departed from our own families, communities, and congregation, but also those who have no one to pray for them. Each soul, known or forgotten, holds a special place in the heart of God. Our prayers can be a bridge of love and mercy, reaching those souls still in need of grace.
In our daily prayers, let us ask the saints to intercede on our behalf, so that we too may one day share in the splendor of heaven’s glory, united with all the saints and the souls of the faithful departed in eternal communion with God.
Image: Japanese Martyrs engraving and Wolff’s prayer in his handwriting
This prayer card is from KADOC (Documentation and Research Center), Leuven, Belgium, where most of our founder’s documents are preserved. In the center of this card, you will find the picture of the Japanese martyrs , with the inscription below that reads “Blessed Paul, John, Jacob, Japanese Martyrs” in Latin. There is also a prayer by Fr. Wolff in Latin about the martyrs and saints, along with his signature, dated January 24, 1822. The handwritten text of Fr. Wolff was transcribed with the help of Transkribus and translated into English using DeepL, then finalized after consulting with a Latin expert at our faculty.
The segment above the picture
Before Catechism: Lord Jesus Christ, you said, “Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” You humbled yourself, suffered, and died for our sake. I humbly ask for your healing and your loving kindness, so that you make us perfect instruments dedicated to you. Help us to follow your call in the ways of the Church, so that, by avoiding sin, we may honor you fully. Through the prayers of the Holy Martyrs, the Saints, and the power of holy relics, give us the grace to live each day for your greater glory and our eternal salvation.
The segment below the picture
After Catechism: Lord Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Show us, as you did to Paul, the way to eternal truth, and lead us to eternal life. Fill us with the good fruits that come from being made right with you and from your mercy to us. Never let our sins block the way to our salvation, but let the good that comes from those who plant and water grow, for you alone give the growth and deserve all honor. O good Jesus, make my heart loving and be with all according to your mercy. Amen.
For more about Japanese Martyrs, visit https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/martyrs-of-japan-5735
Touched by the Cross
Renowned for Miracles
Of St. Francis Xavier
A nail by which Jesus was crucified
The stole of St. Hubert
The relics of the Three Kings
24th of January 1822
Pray for us
M. Wolff, RCP
RCP stands for Rector Congregationis Parochialis (Rector of the Parish Congregation) or Rector Congregationis Pastoralis (Rector of the Pastoral Congregation).