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Our Lady of Fatima

14th May 2020

The rosary is a powerful prayer.  In Fatima, Our Lady said pray the rosary every day for peace in the world. 

We celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13th. On this day in 1917, Our Lady made Her first appearance to three shepherd children, Jacinta (age 7), Francisco (age 8) and Lucia (age 10), at Fatima in Portugal. She appeared to them once a month from May through October. The lives of the three children of Fatima were entirely transformed by the heavenly apparitions.

Lucia relates that on June 13, 1917, after speaking at length about Her Immaculate Heart, Our Lady of Fatima again stretched forth Her hands, throwing on the children the rays of that immense light in which they saw themselves as if immersed in God . . . The Blessed Virgin held in Her right hand a Heart surrounded by thorns, which pierced it from all sides.  The seers understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, afflicted by all the sins of the world, which demanded penance and reparation.  "

In each of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, she insisted on praying the Rosary.  "Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world." 

Our Lady asked them to add after each decade the short prayer:  "Oh my Jesus forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need." 

In the final apparition on October 13, 1917, Our Lady silently held out the scapular (the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel).  Lucia had said that the Blessed Mother wants everyone to wear it:  "The Scapular and the Rosary are inseparable."

Our Lady predicted that God would work a great miracle on October 13, 1917 to prove the authenticity of the apparitions. A tremendous prodigy happened on that day just as Our Lady had promised. For four minutes, the noontime sun spun around giving off various colours, one after the other. If a person at Fatima that day had on a white shirt – it would turn red, green and blue as the sun spun around. It stopped and started again for four more minutes, this time giving off even more beautiful colours. Then it stopped and then it started again. This time it detached itself from its regular position and began to zigzag in the sky. It "danced" for about four minutes, then started to plummet to the earth. It looked as if it was the end of the world. Many people fell on their knees to ask for mercy of God. The sun then returned to its original position in the sky. It was witnessed by over 70,000 people who all, both believers and unbelievers, came away acknowledging that a great miracle had occurred. Several learned men present testified: "I have seen it but I cannot explain it."

In these rosary meditations, you will discover how we can pray with and around the current situation, by using the life of Jesus and Mary.

Joyful Mysteries

Prayed on Mondays and Saturdays. 

Annunciation

The angel Gabriel announces to Mary her role in salvation history.  Mary cooperates with God’s plan and obediently renders her yes to Almighty God.  During these days of quarantine, we pray for the grace to be humble and obedient to what others ask of us, so that the virus may be contained in a timely manner. 

Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and offers the aged woman help during the last weeks of her miraculous pregnancy.  Just as Mary immediately went in haste to help, we ask for the grace to help others when their needs becomes apparent.  We also pray for those who will attend to the sick and dying—for the clergy who will anoint; the first responders who will transport; the medical professionals who will diagnose and treat.  Please protect them O Lord.

Nativity of our Lord

Mary accompanies Joseph to Bethlehem for the census which must have been a difficult journey for her since she was so close to giving birth.  We entrust all pregnant women to the Lord and Mary’s intercession; may they bring their child safely and healthily to birth.  May these families rejoice as Joseph and Mary did when they adored their child for the very first time. 

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Simeon tells Mary that a sword of sorrow will pierce her heart.  The evangelist Luke adds that this happens so that the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.  Mary, as our mother, understands our sorrows, anxieties, and emotions.  Let us pray for those who now mourn and are filled with sorrow, may the Lord console them and comfort them in this hour. 

Finding of Jesus in the Temple

During these days of quarantine and pandemic, we seem lost ourselves.  We are unable to worship on Sundays as a Christian community.  In these trying times, we turn to our faith and find hope.  Let us pray for people who had previously turned away from God, that in this moment of trial, they find Jesus once again, and in Him find their comfort and peace. 

Luminous Mysteries

Prayed on Thursdays

Baptism of the Lord

Jesus begins his public ministry by going to John the Baptist and asking for him to baptize him, even though John confesses that he is not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.  John prayed, “He must increase, I must decrease.”  During this time of quarantine, we pray for growth in the virtue of humility and our dependence on God for all that we have. 

Wedding at Cana

In the prayer of Pope Francis entrusting the world to Mary’s intercession during this troubling time, he said, “You know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting.”  Let us ask Mary to notice the needs of our lives, families, communities, and world.  May she intercede for us now, so we can return to joy and feasting of ordinary life. 

Proclamation of the Kingdom

Jesus often proclaimed the Kingdom of God saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”  Let us ask the Lord to give us true sorrow for our sins.  May this time of prayer, penance, and fasting help us repent and seek God’s forgiveness. 

Transfiguration

Peter exclaimed to the transfigured Christ that it is good to be with Jesus.  In his exclamation, he expressed his desire to remain with Jesus in that moment.  Let us pray for the same grace now, to remain with Jesus in prayer so that we might know Him all the better.