Appreciation to my nephew, Wilfred U. for this article.
Our Lady of Akita
Medal of our Lady of Akita
Sr. Agnes Sasagawa.
Japanese quake's epicenter located near Marian apparition site
The shrine of Our Lady of AkitaNiigata, Japan, Mar 12, 2011 / 07:17 am (CNA).- The epicenter of the earthquake that caused a deadly March 11 tsunami is located near the site of an apparition in which Mary warned about a worldwide disaster that could afflict humanity.Japanese church officials have confirmed that the Diocese of Sendai, in the north of the country, was hit hardest by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake – the worst in Japanese history – and the resulting 23-foot waves. Hundreds of people have already been confirmed dead in the city of Sendai, located less than 90 miles away from the apparition site of Our Lady of Akita in the town of Yuzawa.The city of Akita, which experienced fire damage and flooding along with many parts of northern Japan, is a place of veneration for Catholics. In 1973, the Virgin Mary was said to have predicted a number of future events – including natural disasters even more serious than Friday's earthquake and tsunami – during three appearances to a Japanese religious sister, Sr. Agnes Sasagawa. The purported appearances of the Virgin Mary in Japan were reviewed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1988. During his time as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prior to his election as Pope Benedict XVI, he let stand the local bishop’s judgment that the apparitions and the messages were acceptable for the faithful.The messages warned of chaos within the Church, and disasters which could afflict the world.“If men do not repent and better themselves, God the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity,” Mary reportedly told Sr. Agnes. “If will be a punishment greater than the (biblical) flood, such as never seen before.”“Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful,” she said. “The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church, in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops.” “Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.” “Each day, recite the prayers of the Rosary,” she told Sr. Agnes. “With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests.” Two years after the last message, the statue of the Virgin Mary in the chapel where the apparitions had occurred began to emit tears and drops of blood. The occurrence continued for more than six years.Reports from Akita following Friday's earthquake indicate that the city received significantly less damage than other parts of northern Japan, despite its proximity to the epicenter. However, residents did report power outages, burst pipes, and fires. Bishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Niigata, whose territory includes the Akita apparition +++++
Our prayers and thoughts go out to the Japanese in this their time of tragedy and great suffering. You may have heard of Our lady of Akita - if not google it and start reading.On one of my many trips to Japan I made good a promise I made to Our Lady of Akita which was - if ever I finish my work here and can't get out for some reason I will come to see you. This happened one Saturday night when I was at Narita Airport and the flight was canceled because of bad weather. Immediately I caught the train for the long journey to Akita. Before I left I got my agent in Japan to write on a piece of papaer for me "take me to the Cathlic Church". I knew that once I got to the church I could find my way to the convent where the statue of Our Lady of Akita was housed.
I took the train, it was snowing very heavily. I got to Akita and looked for a Hotel. Luckily I got a room late that night; I had not booked so was furtunate I guess. The next moring I got up, had breakfast, checked out and got a cab to the church using the piece of paper my agent had given me. When I got in the cab the driver looked at me rather curiously but drove away from the taxi stand toward the church. About 100 meters down the road there was a statue of Our Lady displayed in a shop on the corner of a street, the cab turned into the street and there was the church - I could have walked!I went to Mass in the church then after found someone who could speak english. I got them to get a cab for me, tell the driver to take me to the convent, leave me there for 3 hours then come back to get me to return me to the railway station for my trip back to Tokyo. And so I went to the convent.It was snowing and the taxi cab was slipping all over the place - eventually we got there. I knocked on the door and a nun answered who spoke english. I began to say "I have come......" when the nun interupted me - "I know why you're here" she said, "the Bessed Mother is in here". I took of my shoes (you have to do that there) and entered the lovel sanctuary that housed Our Lady of Akita"; it was a very special time. An hour later the nun came and said to me - "come and have lunch with us". "No thanks" I replied "I don't need lunch I am hapy to stay here". "No, you must come and have lunch with us" And so I did.What a fantastic lunch it was. All the Japanese nuns were giggling and laughing so I asked the nun who could speak english what they were laughing at. "At you coming here John" she replied. "How come?" I asked, you must have other people coming here also". "Yes", she said, "But not in this kind of weather, not when it is snowing so badly". Well this was the time Our Lady arranged for me and so there I was. The one question they asked me about New Zealand? "What is your national flower?" - I'm ashamed to say I didn't really know but I mentioned a few natives then selected the Kowhai as our native flower.After lunch I spent some more time with Our Lady then the taxi arrived to take me to the train station to catch the train back to Tokyo where I found a Hotel for the night.The next day a funny thing happened. I was walking by Tokyo Central Station looking for a Catholic Church so I could pay a visit to say thankyou to God for allowing my successful trip to Akita. Out of the corner of my eye I saw an old lady sitting on some stairs in distressed state. She had bare feet with sores all over them. She looked shocking to say the least. I noticed literally hundreds of people walking past her and not one of them was taking any notice - I couldn't believe this. I was going to see if I could do any thing for her but then thought I have to find the church to say my thankyou. I had tried on foot but no luck so then I thought I would get a cab because I had the piece of paper to show the driver. I found a cab, the driver read the paper then shut my door (they do it that way there) then drove off for about 20 yards then jammed on the brakes, opened my door, was yellng something in Japanese that I couldn't understand - so I just sat there. He raced off to get some one else who also started yelling and he literally pulled me out of the cab - and that was that.So then I thought I will carry on walking the streets to see if I could find someone to show me where the church was. As Iwas walking I heard a voice say "You Walked past Me", how do you mean I thought to myself. I carried on walking when the same voice said: "You Walked Past Me"; then I remembered the old lady. I thought to myself I will go back and if she is still there I will give her some money to help her situation. I went back, she was still there, so I took some money from my wallet and gave it to her. I could see the joy in her face as she realized someone cared - the rest of Japan was still passing her by without even noticing.It was an amazing journey, my trip home had me thinking a lot about everything. God works in ways we don't understand and this experience of mine was one of them.Todays distress in Japan brought back many memories. One thing I have not heard in the media (not to say it hasn't been said but I have not heard it) the word GOD. The power of Nature is a common phrase it seems to me; when will we ever learn?Below is some informaton abut Akta - the Church has approved it - we need to wake up!John Porteous=============================================Our Lady of Akita weeping statue
AKITA, Japan 1973 to 1975
The extraordinary events began on June 12, 1973, when Sr.. Agnes saw brilliant mysterious rays emanate suddenly from the tabernacle. The same thing happened on each of the two days that followed.
On June 28, 1973, a cross-shaped wound appeared on the inside left hand of Sr. Agnes. It bled profusely and caused her much pain. On July 6, Sr. Agnes heard a voice coming from the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel where she was praying. The statue was carved from a single block of wood from a Katsura tree and is three feet tall. On the same day, a few of the sisters noticed drops of blood flowing from the statue's right hand. On four occasions, this act of blood flow repeated itself. The wound in the statue's hand remained until September 29, when it disappeared. On September 29, the day the wound on the statue disappeared, the sisters noticed the statue had now begun to "sweat", especially on the forehead and neck. On August 3, Sr. Agnes received a second message. On October 13, she received a final third message.
Two years later on January 4, 1975, the statue of the Blessed Virgin began to weep. It continued to weep at intervals for the next 6 years and eight months. It wept on 101 occasions.
Here are the three messages of Our Lady of Akita to Sr. Agnes:
JULY 6, 1973
"My daughter, my novice, you have obeyed me well in abandoning all to follow me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? Your deafness will be healed, be sure. Does the wound of your hand cause you to suffer? Pray in reparation for the sins of men. Each person in this community is my irreplaceable daughter. Do you say well the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist? Then, let us pray it together."
"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father pleading for the coming of His Kingdom."
"Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls."
"Most holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your Special Child. Amen."
When the prayer was finished, the Heavenly Voice said:
"Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests. Since your Baptism you have always prayed faithfully for them. Continue to pray very much...very much. Tell your superior all that passed today and obey him in everything that he wil tell you. He has asked that you pray with fervor."
AUGUST 3, 1973
"My daughter, my novice, do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you."
"It is very important...You will convey it to your superior."
"Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with my Son, for souls who will repair by their suffering and their poverty for the sinners and ingrates."
"In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly Father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. WIth my Son I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls. Prayer, penance and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger. I desire this also from your community...that it love poverty, that it sanctify itself and pray in reparation for the ingratitude and outrages of so many men.
Recite the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist with awareness of its meaning; put it into practice; offer in reparation (whatever God may send) for sins. Let each one endeavor, according to capacity and position, to offer herself entirely to the Lord."
"Even in a secular institute prayer is necessary. Already souls who wish to pray are on the way to being gathered together. Without attaching to much attention to the form, be faithful and fervent in prayer to console the Master."
After a silence:
"Is what you think in your heart true? Are you truly decided to become the rejected stone? My novice, you who wish to belong without reserve to the Lord, to become the spouse worthy of the Spouse, make your vows knowing that you must be fastened to the Cross with three nails. These three nails are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Of the three, obedience is the foundation. In total abandon, let yourself be led by your superior. He will know how to understand you and to direct you."
OCTOBER 13, 1973
"My dear daughter, listen well to what I have to say to you. You will inform your superior."
After a short silence:
"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
"The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them"
"With courage, speak to your superior. He will know how to encourage each one of you to pray and to accomplish works of reparation."
"It is Bishop Ito, who directs your community."
And She smiled and then said:
"You have still something to ask? Today is the last time that I will speak to you in living voice. From now on you will obey the one sent to you and your superior."
"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamites which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."
