Akita
one
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
In the approved apparition of Mary in Akita Japan from June 12, 1973 until Sept. 15, 1981, a statue of Mary wept blood and tears because so many of her children have turned away from God and are in danger of eternal loss.
DECEMBER 1975 Her Guardian Angel said: "Do not be surprised to see the Blessed Virgin weeping. She weeps because she wishes the conversion of the greatest number. She desires that souls be consecrated to Jesus
But you might ask, how could Mary weep in Heaven? Sorrow is a God-given human emotion.
● Mary is more fully alive in Heaven, Body and soul / with human emotions.
She is not sad for herself,
● The cause of her sadness is to see so many of her children rejecting God permanently – rejecting Heaven and choosing their own self-destruction
She shreds tears to bring about our conversion
● to get our attention and to call us to action
two
AUGUST 3, 1973 Mary revealed to Sr Sasagawa
"My daughter…do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you...Many men in this world afflict the Lord.
"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…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."
"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamites which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."
This might sound terrifying but it’s not fatalistic.
She’s saying that by our own personal conversion,
● Praying the Rosary
● Taking up our cross daily
● We can change the course of world events and help save souls.
three
October 13, 1973
"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 Flood…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. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."
What is the purpose of the message about chastisements?
God does not punish us. God does not need to because we are oh so good at punishing ourselves.
God leaves mankind free
● Good choices result in good consequences
● Evil choices cause evil consequences
o that affect the good and bad alike
o War; famine; persecution of the good
The Purpose of the Message of Chastisement is this:
● The future is not irrevocably set
● We can’t change world events by watching the news
● We can change world events and save souls,
● if we answer the call of Our Lady
What will our future look like
– that depends on us…
four
We can console the sorrowful heart of Mary by brining her children back to her
How do we do that? There are three essential ingredients: Formation through Daily meditation; good conversation in friendship; then as often as possible, bring these two together.
1. The first ingredient is to Commit to formation through daily meditation and a resolution
a. The CCC suggests two forms of meditation: Lectio Divina (Praying over Scripture) and the Rosary
b. The Rosary podcast is designed to give your formation in all areas of your faith in daily digestible portions
c. You Learn to Meditate or think about those timeless truths during the decade
d. With a daily resolution we put into practice the virtues we’ve reflected upon which transforms our life
e. The Podcast is easy to share with others and easy to pray with others
f. Daily Rosary.net
2. The second ingredient we need daily is Friendship within the family and beyond
a. Build a real friendship with the people in your life
b. Start with individuals
c. Be genuinely interested in that person and what they are interested in
d. Delight in that person – acknowledge their goodness
e. Ask questions that cause them to reflect on their life and answer honestly.
i. How do you feel about the work you are doing – is it satisfying?
ii. What has been most on your mind recently?
f. When they ask you
i. Answer honestly
ii. Tell them what you have been thinking about
g. In this way we are teaching them to think and reflect through conversation which prepares them for both meditation and good conversation
i. For these are the same thing – one is conversation with God the other with a human person.
h. Invite them to daily meditation
i. Follow up with them so that the next time you can ask them what they’ve been reflecting on in mediation and in life, and you can share what you’ve been meditating on and thinking about – now you are having a good conversation.
j. A good conversation is the result of at least two people who reflect upon the Word of God, their life and the world. Then talk about those things with each other. But good conversation begins with reflection and that is daily meditation.
five
As often as possible bring friendship and prayer together
a. Invite the people you have been investing in to come together in friendship to share life
i. A meal, or game or the Rosary
ii. We need something we can do together that is not passive entertainment
b. Talk with one another about what you have been reflecting and thinking about
c. And if the circumstances are right – invite them to pray the rosary
6. Friendship is the Place to Invite those who have not yet encountered the love of God or have been away from Jesus and the Church
a. Because people come to God through other people
b. Friendship is the bridge to crossover to God.