Our Lady of Fatima and the three shepherd children
Today we celebrate the 103rd year since the Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.
Catholics do not worship Mary; she would never approve of such actions. We love and honor Mary, just as her son, Jesus, did.
We ask her to pray for us, just as we ask our family members and best friends to pray for us. Yes, we also go straight to Jesus, but since we know Jesus listens to his mother (his first miracle was at her request—turning water into wine at the Cana wedding feast—John 2:3) we also ask her to pray to Jesus for us.
She appeared to the children six times from May to October 1917 asking them to pray and make sacrifices for the end of the war (WWI) and the conversion of poor sinners.
The Angel of Peace appeared to the same shepherd children teaching them prayers in preparation for Mary’s visit to them.
He taught them the Pardon Prayer, reciting it three times and asking them to pray it every day. This prayer would bring many souls closer to God. The prayer:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope [trust] and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.”
On her August 19, 1917, visit, she told the children: “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them” (Fatima for Today – The Urgent Marian Message of Hope).
The Angel of Peace also said, “Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You will thus draw down peace upon your country” (Fatima for Today – The Urgent Marian Message of Hope, chapter 3).
There is so much more. I suggest you pick up the quoted book by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, printed by Ignatius Press, and learn how to help save souls.
Mary’s visits never teach anything that Jesus has not already taught us. Unfortunately, we’re not obeying Him; therefore, He often sends his mother as an urgent reminder.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
