They did the same to Padre Pio They are not hidden - they are protected. This is what is best. Just as they ask people not to handle the wooden statue for protection. Why is that so hard to accept for you?
When my husband was in Japan on business in 1995, he was coming out of Mass and asked the best way to get to Akita. He was told by several English-speaking Japanese gentlemen that most of their fellow countrymen have lost interest in Sr. Agnes and the shrine received very few visitors. My husband journeyed there by train and had a lovely visit with the sisters and enjoyed time in the chapel by himself. The statue was every bit as beautiful as the photos. He was told that Sister Agnes was feeling ill and was resting in her cell but that did not dampen his happiness. He prayed for the sisters but will be very upset to hear that Sister Sasagawa is no longer there. If anyone can find more information I would appreciate it.
Thank you Mac, not only lovely but wise and well informed. Facts by themselves do not always present the truth , so let's leave it at that. And let's leave the Goodness of Akita unsullied.
Hi DJM I am sure you could write to a few bishops from near Akita and ask for information. Then you would have it first hand. Much may have changed in the last 20 years.
Mac look at this! and its organised by the Society of St. Pius X. Video - Akita Pilgrimage 2014 09/05/14 13:20 May 9 update Akita Pilgrimage 2014 8th Annual Akita Pilgrimage, 2014: Organized by the Society of St. Pius X. Pilgrims came from Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and one each from Poland, Canada and US. Full write-up of Akita Pilgrimage and other stops in Japan will be in the print edition of the June 2014Catholic Family News: (goes to press at the end of May). I got back from overseas late last night – was gone from April 30 to May 8. My time in Japan also included a day visit to Nagasaki, I visited Ground Zero of the tragic Nagasaki bombing, as well magnificent Catholic sites. It was one of the most fascinating trips of my life that has given me much to write about in CFN in the near future. - j vennari • • More photos from Akita Pilgrimage: May 2-6, 2014 Mass, Lectures, Procession, Prayers, good camaraderie, a magnificent event... June CFN will include a write-up on the story of the miraculous happenings at Akita (from the best sources), the Pilgrimage, as well as my visit to Japan - jv Subscribe to Catholic Family News a traditional Catholic monthly print journal faithful to what the Church has taught "in the same meaning and in the same explanation" for 2000 years.
They have been having pilgrimages there for years. A few parishioners from here have been.My mother-in-law being one.I have met that Japanese priest.
Haven't time to catch up on all the posts, so apologies if this has already been covered. I read this recently (I think it was on a blog) but unfortunately didn't save the link so can't post it. Although Bishop Ito had approved the apparitions at Akita, his successor condemned it and had Sr. Agnes expelled from the convent at Akita. Sr. Agnes moved to a house in suburban Tokyo which became a house of prayer, supported by a wealthy believer in the Akito apparitions. She was accompanied by another sister and Fr. Yesuda, her spiritual director. I'm pretty sure that the report/blog post said that all three were living in that house of prayer when Fr. Yesuda died a couple of years ago. I don't know what to believe about Akita. I suppose it's a case of take the good and leave the rest, the good being that Our Lady wants us to mend our ways. I don't like the statue, but that's my personal taste and has nothing to do with whether the apparition is genuine. I also would want more evidence than a weeping statue to convince me that Heaven is communicating with us.
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Thank you Mac. I had heard about the SSPX pilgrimages to Akita. As ever their devotion is exemplary in its reverence.
Thank you Dolours for this information, When things like this happen, why is it that..... the ordinary Catholic is not informed! No wonder so many Catholics are at odds, as everyone has different amounts of information! Could not the truth be placed within each persons reach! Don't the authorities think this revelation about Sr Agnes, as well as other things are not important enough to let us all know? Here we are today reading old manuscripts and Catholic Magazines, trying to get info on authentic Catholic books and scanning the internet for information. It all reads like a Mrs Marple murder mystery! When you think about it, the evil one doesn't need a helping hand to confuse people! so why do so many in authority, seem to do just that!
Bp.Isao's memo A Catholic Bishop's blog, Bp. Isao Kikuchi,SVD May 31, 2014 Annual pilgrimage to AKITA After my return from Amman, Jordan for Caritas Internationalis Representative Council which took us even to Jerusalem for a brief pilgrimage, I joined a group of 14 from Niigata for yet another pilgrimage to AKITA. Though AKITA is in my diocese, Niigata, it takes at least 5 hours drive or 3 and half hours train ride to reach there from Niigata city (Photo above: a new express train between Niigata and AKita). This pilgrimage is an annual event for a Rosary group called GETUYO-KAI in Niigata which literally means "Monday Group" as they meet once a month on Mondays in Cathedral. I usually celebrate Mass for them and join their Rosary recitation. The group was founded by late Bishop Shojiro ITO, the first Bishop of Niigata with faithfuls who witnessed miraculous incidents with a wooden statue of Holy Mother shed tears for 101 times 30 years ago in AKITA. Bishop ITO himself also witnessed the incidents and in 1984 in his Easter Pastoral Letter, he recognised the incidents as miraculous and also the message given to a Sister authentic, and gave permission to organize pilgrimage to the site. The site is now called Marian Shrine of Akita in Seitai Hoshi kai (Handmaids of Holy Eucharist). Seitai Hoshi Kai is a secular institute of consecrated life established by Bishop Ito prior to the miraculous incident. Official stance of Niigata Diocese to the Marian Shrine in Akita has never changed since Bishop Ito's time and everyone is free and welcome to organize pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine in Seitai Hoshi Kai in Akita. Last year in October, Niigata Diocese was invited by Rome Diocese to join the Marian Day for the Year of Faith and organised a vigil prayer service in Akita with other Marian Shrines in the world. It was televised live through Italian TV station. So after I arrived at Narita Airport on 21 May morning, I proceeded to Sendai to join the support meeting for rehabilitation program by Sendai diocese for 2011 disaster victims. Unfortunately I just missed the meeting. I was late. Then I proceeded to Akita to wait for a group from Niigata (Photo above: Pilgrimage to Bethlehem and Jerusalem). 22 May was rainy day but the group from Niigata arrived in good spirit. The group was joined by another Rosary group from Niigata and we had a joint Mass in the afternoon. Following morning was a fine day and we could manage to organise the Stations of the Cross in a beautiful garden of the convent of Seitai Hoshi Kai. The Marian Shrine itself is very important for Niigata Diocese as spiritual foundation but also the convent of Seitai Hoshi Kai is and has been providing wonderful environment of prayer and meditation for us. Of course, members of the institute are praying for the diocese every day. Though diocese of Niigata is a small diocese with only 7,000 Catholics, we have to maximise our efforts for evangelisation in this area with more than 4.5 million people. For this we need spiritual support. Seitai Hoshi Kai provides good facilities for our spiritual renewal and we should utilise them. Also we have another good facility in south. Myoko Church facilities provides us also a good environment to pray and meditate. Both places are precious gifts for our spiritual enrichment in the diocese. Also we should not forget Sisters in the diocese, especially the Poor Clares in Takada and Seitai Hoshi Kai who have been supporting our diocesan activities through their continuous prayers. Oh, I happen to visit both places, Seitai Hoshi Kai and Myoko in coming Sundays. 1st June, there will be Nagaoka District Laity Assembly in Myoko and 8 June is the Akita District Laity Assembly in Seitai Hoshi Kai. Posted by Bp.Isao Kikuchi at 5:22 PM Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest 2 comments: pablo venegasJuly 4, 2014 at 12:22 AM hello excellency i want to ask you,all the messages that recieve sister agnes sasagawa fron our lady are globally know in japan? is sister still alive? thank you Bp.Isao KikuchiJuly 4, 2014 at 7:37 PM Sr.Sasagawa is still fine and strong. She stays with one of Seitihoshikai member. Reply Load more...
http://www.earlychristianhistory.info/montanus.html 'The Teachings of Montanus We have no direct record of Montanus’s teachings, either from him or one of his followers. Any such records have long since been destroyed. All we can go on, is what others said about it. However, this is enough to give us a good picture of what Montanism entailed. Montanus taught that, ultimately, any believer at all, could become a “prophet” as he was, for Christ had promised the Paraclete or Holy Spirit to all believers. Next, he taught that all believers are equal, men as well as women. Two of his most trusted disciples, who became prophets in their own right, were women! Montanist worship services included prophetic declarations, and could be presided over by women as well as men. A Spartan lifestyle was encouraged, one which minimized entanglements with the physical world (though Montanists were not ascetics or hermits). There were no clergy in Montanism — although only senior members taught doctrine to junior members. One can see there is some overlap between Gnosticism and Montanism, however, in its time, Montanism was seen as something rather distinct; additionally, Gnosticism generally did not rely on “prophets” making declarations — something which was absolutely central to Montanism.'
There was so much that was symbolic in my pilgrimage to Akita. It may not have meant much to others but it registered with me. These symbols also connect Garabandal with Akita and even Fatima in my mind and heart. The Black Kites and the Vultures of Garabandal and Akita - "where the 'eagles' gather there you will find the body." The bears that are found in the hills of Akita and near Garabandal. The Bear of course is the symbol of Russia so central to Garabandal and Fatima prophesy. There is a "beware of the bears " poster as you enter the Way of the Cross in Akita. Now that takes faith to do. I did look over my shoulder a few times. The black kites protect the nuns by eating the poisonous snakes around the shrine. The nuns look on them with great affection and call them the friendly birds. Of course the snake is a symbol of evil as featured under the feet of Mary in many statues and prophesies and under the feet of Michael as he accompanies Her Immaculate Heart in its final Triumph. Wow - I feel like I have been kicked in the guts after reading your post Dolours. I wonder how Mary felt. I was glad to take one on the chin for her. It seems that all the tears wept by Her beautiful statue were more or less wasted as far as you are concerned. One of the reparations of the five first Saturdays is for insults to Her sacred image. I am not saying you have actually insulted Her Image but it felt pretty close to that. You are of course entitled to your opinion but it seems so regardless of all that was observed and recorded there for our edification and salvation over the years covering the events and their examination. At the end of Our Rosary of the Seven Sorrows here in Morrinsville we say three Hail Marys to honour all the Tears that Mary the Mother of God has shed for us. Among these tears we honour those shed by Her miraculous image in Akita. These halted at 101 times on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. How can you so easily dismiss this as just another weeping statue. In your comment you suggest that "Our Lady wants us to mend our ways" is the only good of Akita. This seems such a belittlement of her manifestation and messages. Please read what Bishop Isao says in my post. As you suggest, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. God bless you with better eyesight!
To be fair, Josephite, I'm not sure how much information we are entitled to and who in the Church would be obliged to inform us. The information I posted is what I recall reading. Most likely, it falls short of a completely accurate account of what happened. For example, we know that Bishop Ito approved the apparitions and that he had a favourable impression of Sr. Agnes. We know that he conducted two investigations, that there was a negative conclusion from the first investigation and a slim majority in favour of a positive conclusion by the second investigation. We know that the matter was referred to the Vatican but that the Vatican did not issue an official decision and that Bishop Ito died in the meantime. We know that Sr. Agnes left Akito but we don't know why. Some people cast her in the role of victim but we really don't know whether she left voluntarily or was actually expelled. Even if she was expelled, we don't know if there were legitimate reasons. Sometimes, a superior such as a Bishop can be in an awkward situation where he is bound by confidentiality to not disclose the reasons for his actions. I'm sorry I didn't save that link but I don't think there was a whole lot more information on it and, anyway, it may well have been a biased report. It's best to do as much research as possible on all private revelations and don't be too hasty in deciding which to accept or reject.
Dolours I believe in the Akita apparitions and the message. In Macs first video on Akita that is posted on this thread, we see Bishop Ito and he gives us [the veiwer] an explanation for his decision and also extra information regarding his authority from Rome to declare the revelations authentic or not. The subsequent bishop may have dismissed the apparitions as private but I don't believe he nor any other prelate has the power to overrule an investigation by a previous Bishop? One would think and hope that the decision of the Bishops that investigated and approved say Fatima [who were privy to the relevant information and facts] could not have their decision overturned by a subsequent bishop! Because where would that lead us today? Approved apparitions would then be at the mercy of the whims of bishops who did not do the investigations! Just my thoughts.
I also believe in Akita. I did not for many years. One does not have to believe in it. What is of interest is the message....we are all so familiar with....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 have 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. What is also of interest is that Cardinal Ratzinger also mentions that it is worthy of belief. And that the message of Akita and Fatima are essentially the same. Not that the message of Fatima spoke of this back then. Josephite said ...The subsequent bishop may have dismissed the apparitions as private but I don't believe he nor any other prelate has the power to overrule an investigation by a previous Bishop? That doesnt seem to apply to the 'Our Lady of Nations' which was well condemned by the first Bishop. Then some laterBishop said they are great. Makes a farce out of the whole approval thing .
