Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

A Japanese woman religious and Marian visionary has died five decades after witnessing the miraculous weeping of a statue of Mary and receiving urgent messages to pray in reparation for humanity’s sins.

Sister Agnes Sasagawa, a member of the Institute of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist in Akita, Japan, passed away on Aug. 15, at age 93. The date coincided with the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A convert to Catholicism from Buddhism, Sister Agnes experienced several apparently miraculous events centering on a statue of Mary from 1973 to 1981. These phenomena were witnessed by several others, including Bishop John Shojiro Ito of Niigata. In 1984, he approved their supernatural character and encouraged veneration of “the Holy Mother of Akita.”

Current Bishop Paul Daisuke Narui of Niigata confirmed by email to OSV News that he had been informed of Sister Agnes' death but had “no plan to publish a statement in relation to her passing.” He added, “I thank you very much for praying for her.”

An Aug. 15 post on X account @seitai_hoshikai stated that Sister Agnes “had been undergoing medical treatment for some time” and had “passed away … due to old age.” The post also mentioned that her body was "donated to the medical school" at her request following a funeral Mass held "at the main monastery with only members in attendance."

No announcement regarding Sister Agnes’ death was posted on the religious order’s website or YouTube channel. A message on their website stated that "the entire grounds, including the chapel and gardens... are closed for the summer from Aug. 1 to 31," with plans to reopen on September 1.

In July 1973, then-novice Sister Agnes claimed to have witnessed light surrounding a wooden statue of Our Lady of All Nations in her convent. The statue allegedly spoke to her multiple times that year, asking her to pray in reparation for humanity's sins and be obedient to her superior.

Sister Agnes also experienced visions involving her guardian angel and stigmata—a wound resembling those suffered by Jesus Christ—in her left hand. Witnesses reported seeing this three-foot-tall statue sweat and shed tears intermittently until 1981.

Bishop Ito noted these occurrences could not have been achieved through "human maneuvers" after observing them himself along with at least 500 others who studied it at University of Akita. The phenomenon was broadcast on Japanese television as well.

Before joining the Handmaids of the Eucharist in May 1973, Sister Agnes suffered ill health including paralysis and hearing loss which she later regained as foretold by Mary during one vision where she urged prayers for priests and bishops amidst warnings about divine chastisement unless there were prayerful intercessions.

Mary's repeated calls included dire prophecies about fire falling from skies destroying much life while stressing daily rosary recitation alongside an alert against church infiltration leading clergy into conflicts within ranks according Vision-related messaging suggested stronger faith adherence without complaints despite current Church conditions needing peaceful actions & intercessory prayers

Robert Fastiggi emphasized these revelations aimed more towards faithful living rather than critiquing church status quo when interviewed recently:

“The message is not one complaint but peaceful action & intercession,” he explained emphasizing prayer support especially Pope/Bishops/Priests importance per Catechism teachings seeing such private revelations aiding period-specific faithful lives beyond core Christ-revelations

“People are losing faith,” observed Fastiggi adding sinful prevalence requires Eucharistic return/rosary-praying/interceding poor sinners timely relevances across eras reaffirmed therein###