13th May 2019

Our Lady of Fatima

One hundred years ago, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children – Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia – at Fatima, Portugal. Through them, our Blessed Mother conveyed the message: pray for conversion of hearts, make sacrifices on behalf of sinners. We remember this each time we pray the Rosary, as we recite after each decade, ‘O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven especially those in most need of your mercy.’

There was also a secret message which was finally made public by Pope St. John Paul II. In its essence, it reminds all that ‘the action of God, the Lord of history, and the co-responsibility of man in the drama of his creative freedom, are the two pillars upon which human history is built. Our Lady, who appeared at Fatima, recalls these forgotten values. She reminds us that man’s future is in God, and that we are active and responsible partners in creating that future.’

In today’s readings we see both those who choose not to believe the Gospel message and those who do. The world, now, is no different. Many still deny the very existence of God by their actions, despite all proofs, and foster a culture of death which leads many astray. The message of Fatima reminds us of what Jesus, in the Gospel, asks us to do: believe in Him and carry forward His work.