a year of prayer: 365 Rosaries

Today, August 3, marks the anniversary of the second message delivered to Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa by Our Lady of Akita, Japan. (For more on Sister Agnes, click here). Previously, in June of 1973, Sister Agnes had witnessed a heavenly glow emanating from the tabernacle in the convent chapel, and had witnesses a “multitude of angels surrounding the alter in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.” A wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin had also begun to weep. Following her vision, Sister Agnes had developed a miraculous stigmata on her hand in the shape of a cross, which appeared each week.

Sister Agnes, deaf in both ears, reported three messages in total from the Blessed Virgin during 1973. The last vision would occur in October. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary- carved from a single block of Katsura wood from a tree, and approximately three feet tall-- continued to weep thereafter for some years. On July 6, 1973, Sister Agnes reported that she first heard the statue calling her. She was visited by her guardian angel and Our Blessed Mother and the wooden statue also began to bleed. The message of Our Blessed Mother on July 6 was to pray for the reparation of the sins of man.

She also provided Sister Agnes with the Akita Prayer:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Thy 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 Thou wilt for the glory of the Glory of the Father and salvation of souls. Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Thine Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Thy special child. Amen


On August 3, Sister Agnes was in the chapel praying the Rosary when her guardian angel appeared to her. She had come armed with a list of questions, proposed by her bishop, to ask Our Blessed Mother, should she return. Her guardian angel said to her:

" You have something to ask? Go ahead, you have no need to be troubled."

Sister Agnes began to speak, but was interrupted by the beautiful voice from the statue, saying:

"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."

Sister Agnes reported a long silence occurred at this point, where she prayed in earnest to be worthy to receive the messages of Mary. She was rewarded with a further message:

"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."


In total, Sister Agnes would receive three messages from Our Lady of Akita, similar to those delivered by Our Lady of Fatima. Additional miracles would occur, including several miraculous cures. As with her other appearances on earth, Our Blessed Mother urges us to pray the Rosary daily, to lift our lives to the Lord in reparation for not only our own sins, but the sins of mankind. She urges prayer, penance, and courageous sacrifice for the sins of others. Our Blessed Mother promises to intercede for us, if we only ask her to: Our Blessed Mother, our constant advocate, Mediatrix of all Graces, and Co-Redemptrix of the Human Race!


Inspired by the origins and spiritual history of the Holy Rosary, we continue our meditation on the psalms, one each day, in order, for 150 days.
Psalm: Psalm 100: Processional Hymn


1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.



Day 215 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Joined suffering with Christ
Requested Intentions: Health, financial success, positive move (S); Financial security, and health, guidance, and protection for children (ML); For the religious and children of Saint Xavier’s Boarding School, India (FB); Fortitude and faith, Career success (A); Healing of a relationship, employment (A); End to debt and legal difficulties; immigration success (B); For a mother’s continued employment (S); For continued blessings on a relationship (S); For a sick grandmother (R); For the building of a Catholic community, family, and law practice (M); Those suffering from depression (J); Successful adoption (S); Healing of a father battling cancer (S).
Psalm: Psalm 100: Processional Hymn