On July 6, 1973, Sr Agnes Sasagawa started receiving messages from Heaven at Akita, Japan. These messages asked her to make reparation for the sins of mankind. "Do not fear. Pray with fervor not only because of your sins, but in reparation for those of all men. The world today deeply wounds the most Sacred Heart of Our Lord by its ingratitude and injuries. The wounds of Mary are much deeper and more sorrowful than yours." - "Pray very much for the Pope, the bishops, and priests." - "Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him, to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I seek, with my Son, souls who will make reparation, by their suffering and their poverty, for sinners and ingrates." - "As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity." Two years later on January 4, 1975, the statue began to weep. It wept 101 times until September 15, 1981. Scientific examination proved the liquid to be human tears. In 1984, Bishop Ito declared that the events of Akita were of supernatural origin and worthy of belief.