THE CENTENARY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
This year is the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Between 13th May and 13th October 1917 she appeared six times to three young children, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. At the final apparition, a spectacular miracle occurred – witnessed by 70,000 people, believers and unbelievers alike. The sun ‘danced’ in the sky for twelve minutes and then came hurtling towards the earth. It was so terrifying that witnesses thought it was the end of the world! Many cures, both spiritual and physical were recorded. Our Lady’s message to the children and to the world was clear:
- Repent of our sins
- Pray for the conversion of Russia and consecrate it to her Immaculate Heart
- Make reparation for the offences and blasphemies made against her Immaculate Heart.
It has been proposed that we should make the Devotion of the First Five Saturdays which Our Lady requested at Fatima beginning on 4th March. This includes going to confession, attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion worthily, reciting five decades of the Rosary and meditating for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary. This should be done for five consecutive first Saturdays of the month with the purpose of making reparation to her. This would take us through to July.
I’m sure if we were to do this, it would bring down many blessings on our parish, to us as individuals and to the world. To anyone who makes this devotion Our Lady said, “I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls.”
Fr Paul Gillham
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