The Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Our Lady of Fatima

The story of the apparitions:

+ On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared to three children near the village of Fatima, Portugal.

+ In the six apparitions that took place between May and October, Mary called herself “Our Lady of the Rosary” and urged Christians to practice penance, to pray the Rosary daily, and to have devotion to her Immaculate Heart for the conversion of sinners.

+ The apparitions at Fatima were officially approved by the Bishop of Leira-Fatima in 1930.

+ On May 13, 2017, Pope Francis canonized two of the visionaries: Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco Marto. The cause for the beatification of the third visionary, Sister Lucia Santos, is being actively promoted and she was declared “Venerable” in 2023.

For prayer and reflection:

With Mary’s protection, may we be for our world sentinels of the dawn, contemplating the true face of Jesus the Savior, resplendent at Easter.  Thus may we rediscover the young and beautiful face of the Church, which shines forth when she is missionary, welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means and rich in love.”—Pope Francis

Spiritual bonus:

On May 13, we also remember Dame Julian of Norwich. Blessed known for her book, Revelations of Divine Love, Julian was an anchoress whose reflections on the love of Christ, the Passion, and even the Trinity have won her a place in the hearts of Christians of all denominations and she is honored as one of the great mystics of the Middle Ages. Julian died in her anchorhold (hermitage) around the year 1423.

Prayer

O God, who chose the Mother of your Son to be our Mother also,
grant us that, persevering in penance and prayer
for the salvation of the world,
we may further more effectively each day the reign of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.