Prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist: 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

In 1973, Our Blessed Mother—Our Lady of Akita—appeared to Sister Agnes Sasagawa at Akita Japan. Sister Agnes, a member of the Institute of the Handmaids of the Eucharist, received three messages from The Blessed Virgin, the first of which asked her to pray the Prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist each day. In this prayer, Our Lady introduced three subtle new devotions through her apparitions at Akita, building upon those she had delivered at Fatima. Two of these new devotions are contained within the prayer itself.

The first new devotion communicated by Mary to Sister Agnes, and therefore to the world, at Akita, was the use of the term: “truly.” That is, referring to the "Sacred Heart of Jesus truly present in Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.” The word "truly" was not used by the Angel at Fatima. It is believed that Our Lady chose this prayer to emphasize the reality of the true sacramental presence of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. The faithful are thus called to refer to and believe in Jesus as "truly" present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

The second devotion introduced at Akita was the inclusion of the soul as called to consecrate itself in union with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus present in Blessed Sacrament. Souls are called to identify themselves to be consciously spiritually and supernaturally united with the sacramental presence of Our Eucharistic Lord.

The third devotion explicitly ratified at Akita, is the reality of Our Lady as Co-Redemptrix of the Human Race. This was demonstrated by the agonies of pain and sorrow which the Blessed Virgin continues to suffer for the salvation of men- a sorrow which is closely related to her sorrow on Calvary. The pain and sorrow expressed by Our Lady of Akita demonstrates not only her intimate participation in the Salvation of the Human Race, but also her integral participation in the redemptive sacrifice of the Human Race performed in sacrificial union with Jesus at Calvary. Mary suffered to atone for the sin of Eve, while Christ suffered to atone for the sin of Adam. The sins of both Adam and Eve constituted the fullness of the fall of the Human Race, and the sufferings of both Jesus and Mary constituted the fullness of the redemption of the human race, which was accomplished at Calvary.