The First Message of Akita & Honoring Sister Agnes Sasagawa
Called to Offer Our Sufferings for the Church
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This video podcast was produced to honor Sister Agnes Sasagawa who recently passed away. It is designed to help people focus on the importance of the less sensational first message of Our Lady at Akita in 1973 [as approved by the local Bishop John Ito who oversaw the investigations]. Sister Agnes’ recent passing on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary this past August 15, 2024 providentially highlights Sister Agnes’ mission to emphasize Mary’s God-given office: Queen Mother of the Messianic Kingdom and Mary’s intercessory role for Christians.
The first message of Akita - given on July 6, 1973 - was not as sensational as the third message of October 13, 1973 [warning of divine chastisements], but it was incredibly important. Too many people miss its value concerning the mystery of the Church and the role of the baptized “offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). The first message of Akita teaches us about offering our sufferings through Christ and how Christ invites us into the work of his Redemption as members of his Church (cf. Romans 12:1-3).
The video below explains why Sister Agnes had a mystical wound [stigmata] on her left hand and the statue of the Virgin Mary manifested one on its right hand. This was a call to all Christians to join Mary in “offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5) as members of Christ’s mystical body [at one with its first member: Mary]. The first message of Akita was clearly tied to understanding the meaning of Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" as authoritatively explained by the spiritual director of Sr. Agnes, Fr. Thomas Teiji Yasuda [quoted in the video]:
“…the weeping and bleeding of the statue…were brought about by God in order to illustrate the truth of Mary’s role as Co-Redemptrix.” [Roy Abraham Varghese, God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2000), p. 121].
Afterall, the statue at Akita which wept tears 101 times was the statue of “Our Lady of All Nations” from Amsterdam. The Amsterdam devotion had been approved by previous and current Amsterdam bishops but is now called into question by Cardinal Fernandez with awkward archival claims and Pope Francis’ dislike of the term “Co-Redemptrix” (which Pius XI, John Paul the Great, and Sister Lucia promoted)].
The below video tries to explain “Mediatrix” and “Co-Redemptrix” as Pius XI, John Paul the Great, and Sister Lucia frequently used the terms. It brings us to understand our role in offering up our daily sacrifices with special focus on Colossians 1:24 and John 14:12 (cf. 1 Peter 2:5)…
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Learn more from EWTN about the messages of Akita by clicking this link