Akita Apparition Letter
APRIL, 1984 -- Most. Rev. John
Shojiro Ito, Bishop of Niigata, Japan, after years of extensive investigation,
declares the events of Akita, Japan to be of supernatural origin, and authorizes
throughout the entire diocese the veneration of the Holy Mother of Akita.
On April 22, 1984, after eight years of investigations, after consultation with
the Holy See, the messages of Our Lady of Akita were approved by the Bishop of
the diocese. In the Japanese village of Akita, a statue of the Madonna,
according to the testimony of more than 500 Christians and non-Christians,
including the Buddhist mayor of the town, has shed blood, sweat and tears. A
nun, Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa has received the stigmata and has received messages
from Our Lady.
Pastoral Letter of Bishop John Shojiro Ito April 22, 1984
To all members of the diocese, my blessing and very best wishes for this Feast
of Easter. Twenty-two years have elapsed since His Holiness John XXIII appointed
me bishop of the diocese of Niigata, in 1962. In conformity with the legislation
of the Church I have reached the age of retirement and now I must retire as the
local ordinary of the diocese. My thanksgiving goes to each one of you for
prayer and cooperation which have permitted me, despite many difficulties, to
fill my task up to the present day.
Before leaving you, I must confide to you a preoccupation. It has to do with the
series of mysterious events concerning a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary in the
Institute of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
(The request for ecclesial recognition of this secular institute has been
introduced in Rome.) This institute is found in Yuzawadai, Soegawa, Akita, in
this diocese of Niigata (Japan). You are without doubt aware of these events
through magazines, books, television, and so on.
When the first commission of inquiry was named in 1976, I publicly announced
that it was necessary to abstain from all official pilgrimage and all particular
veneration of this statue while the inquiry was underway. From that day I have
made no declaration on this subject. Indeed, being a question of important
events concerning the Church, one cannot treat them lightly. However, to keep
silence at the time of leaving my function as bishop, since I have been at the
heart of the events, would be a negligence with regard to my episcopal duties.
For that reason I have decided to make a new declaration in the form of this
pastoral letter.
Since 1973, when the events began, eleven years have passed. As that was the
first time I was a witness of the rather extraordinary events, I went to Rome to
the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1975 where I consulted
Archbishop Hamer, deputy secretary of this Congregation, and whom I already
knew. He explained to me that judgment regarding such a matter falls under the
jurisdiction of the local Ordinary (bishop) of the diocese in question.
In 1976, I asked the archbishop of Tokyo for the creation of a commission of
inquiry. This first commission declared that it was not in a position to prove
the supernatural events of Akita. In 1979, I presented to the Congregation a
request for the formation of a second commission of inquiry. This second
commission permitted us to examine the facts still more in detail.
In 1981, a letter of the Congregation, unfavorable to the events, was sent to
the nunciature in Tokyo. But this letter contained some misunderstandings.
Esteeming it my duty to restore the exactitude of the facts, I re-examined all
the facts in 1982 at the time that the mysterious events, seemingly, came to an
end. Through the intermediary of the Apostolic Nuncio in Tokyo, I sent the
complete dossier, augmented with the new facts, to Rome.
At the time of my trip to Rome in the month of October last year (1983) I was
able to meet with three officials charged with the matter in the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith. At the end of this meeting we had decided that
the dossier should remain under examination.
II
The series of events relative to the statue of the Virgin Mary include the
flowing of blood from the right hand of the statue, also a perspiration
spreading a sweet perfume, perspiration so abundant that it was necessary to
wipe it away from the statue. However, the most remarkable fact, in our opinion,
and the most evident, is the overflowing of an aqueous liquid, similar to human
tears, from the eyes of the statue of Our Holy Mother.
This began on the 4th of January, 1975 (Holy Year) and some tears flowed 101
times, until the 15th of September, 1981, Feast of Our Lady of the Seven Dolors.
I was able myself to witness four lacrimations. About 500 persons have also been
eyewitnesses. I twice tasted this liquid. It was salty and seemed to me truly
human tears. The scientific examination of Professor Sagisaka, specialist in
legal medicine in the faculty of medicine at the University of Akita, has proved
that this liquid is indeed identical to human tears.
It is beyond human powers to produce water where there is none, and I believe
that to do this the Intervention of a non-human force is necessary. Moreover, it
is not the question of pure water, but of a liquid identical to liquid secreted
by a human body. It flowed only from the eyes of the statue, as tears flow, and
that more than 100 times over a period of several years and before many numerous
witnesses. It has been established that it could not have been by trickery or
human maneuvers.
If these events are not natural one can envisage three causes. They would be due
to:
1. Ectoplasmic power of a human being;
2. Machinations of the devil;
3. A supernatural intervention.
I do not know well what could be ectoplasmic power. However, certain individuals
say that Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa, member of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and who was the one linked most especially to the
events of Akita, might possess such powers permitting her to transfer her own
tears to the statue. For that however, it would be necessary, according to
Professor Itaya of the Tokyo Institute of Technology (specialist in this field)
that the interested person use his or her will power in order to cause such
powers to exert any influence. Now the tears have flowed from the statue when
Agnes Sasagawa was sleeping and even when she was not aware of weepings of the
statue of the Holy Mother, because she was at home with her family 400
kilometers from Akita. I think therefore that the hypothesis of ectoplasmic
power must be rejected.
There are also persons who suppose that it is a question of a machination of the
devil. If that is the case it should lead to evil effects relating to the faith
of the people. Not only have there not been such effects, but quite to the
contrary there have been favorable effects. For example, Mr. Yoichi Imatani,
whose Catholic wife had for a long time recommended conversion, decided to
receive baptism after witnessing the tears flow from the statue.
In another case, a former believer, separated from the Church for several
decades, returned to the regular practice of our religion after seeing the
tears. And again, following a visit to the place, yet another believer resolved
to work in evangelization. Alone she created two circuit churches by offering up
her financial resources and has continued this work to the present day.
Furthermore, there are numerous reports of miraculous cures of diseases such as
cancer, thanks to the mediation of the Virgin of Akita. I am going to mention
two, the most proving.
One is the sudden cure of a South Korean woman, Mrs. Teresa Chun Sun Ho.
Following cancer of the brain, she was reduced to a vegetative existence from
July, 1981. The Virgin of Akita appeared to her and told her to get up. Almost
at once she was able to get up, having entirely recovered her health. This
healing took place while priests and Korean women prayed to the Virgin of Akita
for her cure and asked for a miracle in view of the canonization of the Korean
martyrs. There are X-ray photographs of this person taken during the sickness
and after the complete cure. The X-ray photographs show her cure even to the
eyes of nonprofessionals. The authenticity of the X-rays is attested to by Dr.
M.D. Tong-Woo-Kim, of the Hospital of Saint Paul in Seoul who took these X-rays,
and also by Father Roman Theisen, STD, president of the ecclesiastical tribunal
of the archdiocese of Seoul.
All of the records have been sent to Rome. I went myself to Seoul (South Korea)
last year and was able to interview the cured woman involved; I could thus
assure myself of the truth of the facts of her miraculous cure. For her part the
person came to Akita to thank Our Holy Mother.
The second case is the complete cure of the total deafness of Sr. Agnes
Sasagawa. I will speak in detail of this later.
Such facts propitious to the faith and to physical health exclude that the
events of Akita could be of diabolical origin. There remains therefore only the
possibility of a supernatural intervention. It is in any event difficult to hold
that this is not a question of supernatural phenomena.
III
But why have such phenomena taken place? I ask if they are not with regard to
the messages coming from the statue of the Virgin and perceived by the deaf ears
of Agnes Sasagawa. The first message was given to her on the morning of July
6th, 1973, first Friday of the month. A voice coming from the statue of Mary
always splendid, saying:
My daughter, my novice, you have obeyed me well, abandoning all to follow me. Do
you suffer much because of the handicap which deafness causes you? You will be
assuredly healed. Be patient, it is the last trial. Does the wound in your hand
give you pain? Pray in reparation for the sins of humanity. 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 the 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 My 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."
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 will tell
you. Your superior is wholeheartedly seeking prayers now.
Agnes Sasagawa lost her hearing when she was working as a catechist in the
church of Myoko-kogen. Because of this deafness she was for a time in the
hospital of Rosai in the city of Joetsu. Dr. Sawada diagnosed her total deafness
as incurable and issued the documents permitting, for this reason, state
subsidy. No longer being able to work as a catechist, she came to the Institute
of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Akita,
where she began to live a life of prayer.
The second message, like the first time, was given by the voice coming from the
statue of the Holy Virgin:
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. Convey it to your superior.
Many men in this world grieve the Lord. I seek souls to console Him. In order to
appease the anger of the Heavenly Father, I wish, with my Son, for souls who
will make reparation for sinners and the ungrateful by offering up their
sufferings and poverty to God on their behalf:
In order that the world might know the wrath of the Heavenly Father toward
today's world, He is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind.
With my son, many times I have tried to appease the wrath of the Heavenly
Father. I have prevented the coming of the chastisement by offering Him the
sufferings of His Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and the compassionate
souls who console the Heavenly Father... a cohort of victim souls overflowing
with love.
Prayer, penance, honest poverty, and courageous acts of sacrifices can soften
the anger of the Heavenly Father. I desire this also from your community: please
make much of poverty, deepen repentance, and pray amid your poverty in
reparation for the ingratitude and insults toward the Lord by so many men.
Recite the prayer of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy
Eucharist with awareness of its meaning; put it into practice; offer your life
to God in reparation for sins. Let each one endeavor, by making much of one's
ability and position, to offer oneself entirely to the Lord.
Even in a secular community, prayer is necessary. Already souls who wish to pray
are on the way to being gathered in this community. Without attaching too much
attention to the form, pray fervently and steadfastly to console the Lord.
After a moment of silence She continued:
Is what you think in your heart true? Are you truly prepared to become the
rejected stone: My novice, you who wish to become the pure bride of the Lord. In
order that you, the bride, become the spouse worthy of the Holy Bridegroom, make
your vows with the hearty readiness to be fastened to the Cross with three
nails. These three nails are honest poverty, chastity and obedience. Of the
three obedience is the foundation. With total obedience follow your superior.
Your superior will understand you well and guide you.
The third and last message was given also by the
voice coming from the statue of the Holy Virgin on the 13th of October in the
same year:
My dear daughter, listen well to what I have to say to you. And relay my
messages to your superior.
After a moment's silence:
As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Heavenly Father
will inflict a great punishment on all humanity. It will definitely be a
punishment greater than the Deluge, such as has never been seen before.
Fire will plunge from the sky and a large part of humanity will perish... The
good as well as the bad will perish, sparing neither priests nor the faithful.
The survivors will find themselves plunged into such terrible hardships 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 (Eucharist).
Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary pray for the bishops
and priests. The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church. One
will see cardinals opposing other cardinals... and bishops confronting other
bishops.
The priests who venerate me will be scorned and condemned by their confreres;
churches and altars will be sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept
compromises and the demon will tempt many priests and religious to leave the
service of the Lord.
The demon is trying hard to influence souls consecrated to God. The thought of
the perdition of so many souls is the cause of My sadness. If sins continue to
be committed further, there will no longer be pardon for them.
With courage, convey these messages to your superior. He will tell each one of
you to continue prayers and acts of reparations for sins steadfastly, while
ordering all of you to pray fervently. Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary.
I alone am able still to help you from the calamities which approach. Those who
place their total confidence in Me will be given necessary help.
This message is based on the condition if men do not repent and better
themselves ...I think that it is a serious warning, although one feels here the
maternal love of Our Heavenly Mother in the words: "The thought of the perdition
of so many souls is the cause of My sadness." If the promise contained in the
first message of 1973 was not realized Do you suffer much because of the
handicap which deafness causes you? You will be assuredly healed, one would be
able to doubt the veracity of these messages. But this promise was kept nine
years after the beginning of the sickness.
Before this happened, an angel announced to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa (the 25th of
March, and the 1st of May, 1982): "Your deafness causes you to suffer doesn't
it? The moment of the promised cure approaches. By the intercession of the Holy
and Immaculate Virgin, exactly as the last time, before Him Who is truly present
in the Eucharist, your ears will be definitely cured in order that the work of
the Most High may be accomplished. There will still be many sufferings and
obstacles coming from outside. You have nothing to fear. "
Effectively on the last Sunday of the month of Mary, the 30th of May, 1982,
Feast of Pentecost, at the moment of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament her
ears were cured completely and instantly.
That same evening she telephoned me and we conversed normally. On the following
14 of June, I visited Doctor Arai of the Eye and Ear Division of the Hospital of
the Red Cross of Akita who had verified the complete deafness of Sr. Agnes
Sasagawa at the moment she arrived in Akita nine years before. I asked his
impression. He expressed his amazement at this complete cure. Doctor Sawada of
the Rosai Hospital of Joetsu who had been the first to examine her when she
became deaf, has now issued a medical certificate dated June 3rd, 1982,
attesting that following minute examinations of her auditive capacities, he
certifies that there is no further anomaly in the two ears of Sr. Agnes Sasagawa.
I have known Sr. Agnes Sasagawa for more than ten years. She is a woman sound in
spirit, frank and without problems; she has always impressed me as a balanced
person. Consequently the messages she says that she has received did not appear
to me to be in any way the result of imagination or hallucination.
As for the content of the messages received, there is nothing contrary to
Catholic doctrine or morals, and when one thinks of the actual state of the
world, the warning seems to correspond to it in many points.
Having set down here my experiences and my reflections with regard to the events
relative to the statue of the Holy Virgin of Akita, I esteem it my duty, as
Ordinary of the diocese, to respond to the requests of the faithful to give
pastoral directives on this subject. It is only the bishop of the diocese in
question who has the power of recognizing a fact of this kind. The Congregation
of the Doctrine of the Faith has given me directives in this regard.
I have been in close and constant communication with the Institute of the
Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist since its
foundation. I know precisely the situation concerning this Institute and its
members. In studying the history of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary up to
this day, I am aware that it is always the local ordinary of the diocese who has
authorized the veneration of the Virgin Mary when She has manifested Herself in
their dioceses.
After long prayer and mature reflection, I hand down the following conclusions
in my position as Bishop of Niigata:
1. After the investigation conducted up to the present day, I recognize the
supernatural character of a series of mysterious events concerning the statue of
the Holy Mother Mary which is found in the convent of the Institute of the
Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Yuzawadai,
Soegawa, Akita.
I do not find in these events any elements which are contrary to Catholic faith
and morals.
2. Consequently, I authorize, throughout the entire diocese, the veneration of
the Holy Mother of Akita, while awaiting that the Holy See publishes definitive
judgment on this matter.
And I ask that it be remembered that even if the Holy See later publishes a
favorable judgment with regard to the events of Akita, it is a question only of
a private Divine revelation. Christians are bound to believe only content of
public Divine revelation (closed after the death of the last Apostle) which
contains all that is necessary for salvation. Nevertheless, the Church, until
now, has equally made much of private Divine revelations as they fortify the
faith. For reference, I cite the following texts of the document on Catholic
Doctrine:
"The saints and the angels, having been conformed to the Will of God receive
from Him grace and glory in abundance and it is right to venerate them because
this amounts to offering praise and thanksgiving to God Himself. Among the
saints the Virgin Mary deserves a special veneration. Indeed, She is not only
the Mother of Our Savior who is God, but also the Mother of us all, and it is as
Mother that She intercedes for us, full of Divine grace greater than those
received by all the saints and angels." (Article 72)
"One venerates the statues and images of Christ and of the saints to sustain the
faith, to adore Christ, to venerate the saints. This act thus becomes praise to
God." (Article 170)
Finally, I beg God that He accord to you all abundant graces, and I send my
Apostolic blessings.
Niigata, Feast of Easter
April 22, 1984
John Shojiro Ito, Bishop
Source: Fukushima, Francis Mutsuo. Akita:
Mother of God as CoRedemptrix. Modern Miracles of Holy Eucharist, Publishing
Company (July 1997).
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