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Okay. And then—go.

Wonder opens our hearts to beauty in the ordinary.

Miracles everywhere.

Holy moments.

Don't let the world steal your wonder.

Northern Japan, comprised primarily as the Tohoku region, is known for its distinctive blend of natural beauty, resilience, tradition, and quiet strength. The people of this region are known for their perseverance and humility. These qualities are born out of its long, harsh winters and heavy snowfall, which have given shape to a culture of endurance, preparation, and communal support. This is the culture Katsuko Sasagawa was born into in 1931. The world almost immediately overlooked her. The consistent theme of her life from a very young age was illness and suffering. Her life was a long period of interior struggle marked by illness, suffering, and a continuous search to make sense of life.

It was during this time that she met and befriended a Catholic nurse. There is something about illness that gives the human heart the time and the space to reflect on the things that matter most. St. Ignatius of Loyola was gravely wounded in battle, and during a long recovery, he read about Christ and the saints. This interior struggle sparked his radical conversion. Katsuko had been born to a Buddhist family and raised in the Buddhist faith. But her friendship with the nurse stoked a curiosity in her about Jesus and the Catholic faith. And at the age of 29, she was baptized as a Catholic.

I mentioned St. Ignatius of Loyola specifically, because Catholicism was brought to Japan in the 16th century by European missionaries. Most notably, St. Francis Xavier, a good friend of Ignatius of Loyola, and one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. Christianity thrived in Japan for almost 100 years before it was banned, missionaries were executed or expelled, and Japanese Christians were forced to renounce their faith under threat of death. Despite this persecution, some believers practiced their faith secretly for over 250 years. They would come to be known as hidden Christians. Without priests, Bibles, or sacraments, they safeguarded essential beliefs through prayer, baptism, and devotion to Mary.

After Japan reopened to the West in the 1800s, missionaries returned. What they discovered is one of the most remarkable stories of faith preservation in history. This story is known as the discovery of the hidden Christians of Nagasaki. In 1865, a group of Japanese villagers quietly approached a Catholic priest newly arrived in Japan after centuries of isolation. They revealed to this priest that they were Christians. But more than that, these believers were descendants of the hidden Christians. Pope Pius IX later called this event the Miracle of the Orient. It stands as one of the most extraordinary examples in history of faith persevered through silence, suffering, and fidelity. Catholics remain a small minority in Japan, less than 1%, but the church's presence is marked by martyrdom, fidelity, humility, and quiet witness. Catholicism came to Japan through missionaries, survived through suffering, and endures today through faithful perseverance. This is the history that made it possible for Katsuko to meet that Catholic nurse, learn about the faith, and become Catholic. A decade after converting to Catholicism, Katsuko entered religious life as a member of the Institute of the Handmaids of the Eucharist, taking Agnes as her religious name. The year was 1973. The place was Akita, Japan. Within months of entering the convent, Sister Agnes began to experience a series of mystical and miraculous events.

On June 12th, she saw brilliant rays of light coming from the tabernacle at the convent. On June 28, a painful cross-shaped wound which bled profusely appeared on the palm of her left hand. On July 6th, Sister Agnes heard a voice coming from the wooden statue of Mary in the convent, which had been carved from a single block of wood. The voice told her that her hearing would be healed. The following year, she was cured completely of her deafness. Two years later, on January 4, 1975, the statue of Our Lady began to weep. Not once, not twice, 101 times over the next seven years. This phenomenon was observed by priests, nuns, visitors, skeptics, the local bishop, and the media. Samples of the tears were collected and examined scientifically. The conclusion was startling and definitive. These were human tears. A Japanese television station captured the statue weeping on film. And on September 15, 1981, the statue wept for the last time.

Why was Mary crying? Sister Agnes Sasagawa said the tears were a sign of Mary's deep sorrow for humanity and a maternal plea for conversion. What is causing you sorrow today? Are there things in your past that cause you pain, even today? No matter what you've been through, no matter what mistakes you have made, no matter what regrets haunt you, Mary sees you. See, she is reaching out to you with compassion and loving kindness. And she is reaching out to us in hope.

Trust.

Surrender.

Believe.

Receive.

God doesn't need your strength.

He wants your surrender.

Today's lesson, you're not overlooked, forgotten, or too insignificant for God's attention. God desires you to live with the confidence that your life matters deeply to Him and that His care is present even when you do not immediately recognize it. And today's virtue, kindness. The virtue of kindness is the excellence of character that imbues every thought, word, and action with goodness. It reveals the essence of our humanity and our ability to bring the goodness of God into any situation. Never underestimate the value of a kind word, thought, or deed. The power of simple kindness is unfathomable. The future of humanity is dependent on the selfless caring we call kindness. I want to invite you today to become a Dynamic Catholic ambassador. Everything we do here at Dynamic Catholic is made possible because people like you make an effort, go out of their way to say, "Yes, I'll give $10 a month. I'll join this group of people that's looking to make a difference and bring the genius of Catholicism to as many people as possible." So click the button below. Pick your welcome gifts. Become an Ambassador today. God bless you. Have an amazing day. And remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

God of miracles, wonders, and grace.

I thank you for all the good you have done in my life.

For the miracles I recognize.

And the many graces I so often overlook.

I open my heart completely to you today.

Inviting you to completely inhabit my soul.

So that through me.

Others may encounter your love.

Your mercy.

Your compassion.

Your kindness.

And your staggering generosity. Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Don't let the world steal your wonder.

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Have a great day.