Sister Sasagawa, and Our Lady of Akita and Knock
Sister Agnes Sasagawa, the visionary of Akita, has died, at the age of 93, and, fittingly, like Saint Hyacinth of whom we wrote today, on the Solemnity of the Assumption.
Readers may recall the alleged visions of of Our Lady to Sister Agnes, at her convent in Akita, Japan, back in 1981 and 1982, with dire predictions for the future of the Church and our world, including factions and schisms within the Church, cardinals, bishops and priests divided against each other, and divine retribution, including ‘fire from the sky’. (Note the caveat of the alleged approval given by Cardinal Ratzinger in 1984, of which no written record exists).
The whole text of the visions to Sister Agnes may be found here.
We’re not bound by divine faith to believe any private revelation, but they are given to us as a warning, to repent of our sins, pray, and offer reparation, through all of our daily ‘prayers, works, joys and sufferings’. Of course, this is already in the public revelation of Christ and His Church – Our Lady, like the good mother she is, simply reminds us of these truths, when we most need such reminding.
This August 17th is also the traditional memorial of Our Lady of Knock, when Our Lady appeared in Ireland on August 21st, 1879 in the parish church of the eponymous village, accompanied by Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist. Our Lord was also present, in the form of the sacrificial Lamb on the altar, surrounded by angels. No words were spoken – none were needed – and the vision lasted about two hours, with fifteen witnesses attesting to its veracity.
May devotion to Our Lady, the truths her Son offers us, increase in these fraught days, always remembering that we have no homeland here. We are on a pilgrimage to eternity, and we should live in such a way, by God’s good grace, and the prayers of Mary, Joseph and all the saints, that we bring each other, and as many as we might, to that blessed end.
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
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Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
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Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
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Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
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Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
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Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
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Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→