Hey there,
Last Sunday we honored our Mothers.
You know … the loving, caring, and nurturing women in our lives.
They’re always ready to offer advice and teach us life lessons. They want the best for us.
These are also traits of our heavenly mother, Mary.
Mary wants us all to join her in heaven. And she’s ready to help us get there any way she can.
One way she does this is to make appearances here on Earth.
The University of Dayton reports this about Marian apparitions:
During the twentieth century, there have been 386 cases of Marian apparitions. The Church has made “no decision” about the supernatural character regarding 299 of the 386 cases. The Church has made a “negative decision” about the supernatural character in seventy-nine of the 386 cases. Out of the 386 apparitions, the Church has decided that “yes” there is a supernatural character only in eight cases: Fatima (Portugal), Beauraing (Belgium), Banneux (Belgium), Akita (Japan), Syracuse (Italy), Zeitoun (Egypt), Manila (Philippines) (according to some sources), and Betania (Venezuela).
Yesterday we commemorated one of those Marian apparitions: the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Beginning on May 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children six times over the span of six months in Fatima, Portugal.
I’d heard about Fatima over the years, but to be honest, I’d never paid much attention to it.
So I wanted to take a deeper look. And boy, am I glad I did.
There’s so much to Fatima, beyond just the appearance of Mary.
The messages … the prayers … the predictions … the miracle. It really does read like a great Hollywood script.
Throw in the fact that two of the children died 100 years ago from a pandemic and there’s all kinds of relevance for us today.
So in this week’s issue of Genuflect, we look at what happened in Fatima in 1917, what was happening historically at that time, the messages Mary provided, the prayers Mary asked the children and us to pray, how it’s relevant to us today, and how to make a spiritual pilgrimage to Fatima. Oh, and the Fatima movie.
So dig in and learn more about what our heavenly Mother wants us to know about getting to heaven. Afterall, Mother knows best.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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Fatima Overview
May 13th is the anniversary of the Marian apparitions to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. In fact, there were 6 apparitions between May and October. On one occasion 70,000 people gathered to witness the event. Here’s a brief overview of the events and the 3-part secret revealed by Mary.
Our Lady of Fatima | Catholic News Agency
Fatima Secret
Over the course of the apparitions with the shepherd children, Our Lady shared a secret that contained three parts. Lucia recorded the secrets on paper when directed to do so by the Bishop. The third secret was sealed and its contents were not revealed until John Paul II did so in 2000. The Vatican provides more background on the events surrounding the secrets, discussions with Sister Lucia, and even an English translation of the letters.
The Message of Fatima | The Holy See
Fatima Mystery
Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory. And with all the secrecy surrounding the Fatima secret texts, it’s no wonder rumors and speculation developed about a possible yet-to-be revealed additional text. Kevin Symonds looks into this possibility.
Is There a “Fourth Secret” of Fatima? | Catholic Stand
Why Children?
At Fatima, Mary delivered messages about penance, war, hell … some pretty heavy topics. Why did she choose three children to disclose these messages? Marge Fenelon has a theory that’s probably right. I wonder if it also has to do with people’s willingness to listen to children without locking them up in an asylum?
Why Did Mary Appear to Children at Fatima? | National Catholic Register
Fatima’s Relevance Today
We may not be concerned about Soviet communism overtaking the US like we were in the days of the Cold War. But Jennifer Gregory Miller explains why Our Lady of Fatima’s message of penance and prayer for conversion of sinners is still applicable today.
The Relevancy of Fatima, One Hundred Years Later | Catholic Culture
The Daily Rosary
At Fatima, Our Lady told Lucia and her cousins to pray the Rosary every day for world peace and to end the war. That was likely the only reason they needed. But for the rest of us, Sister Lucia provides several reasons why we should all pray the Rosary daily.
Fatima’s Sister Lucia Explains Why The Daily Rosary is a ‘Must’ | National Catholic Register
How to Pray The Rosary
Here’s a handy guide to praying the Rosary that includes all the Divine Mystery reflections, the Fatima Prayer, and the two prayers at the end that Pope Francis wants us to pray to end the Coronavirus pandemic.
How to Pray The Rosary | The Rosary Boutique
Fatima Prayer
In the July apparition, Our Lady shared with the children the Fatima Prayer, asking this to be prayed at the end of each decade of the Rosary. Here’s more about the interesting history of this special prayer.
The Fatima Prayer | Learn Religions
Spiritual Fatima Pilgrimage
This May we are all invited to take a spiritual pilgrimage. On the Fatima Shrine’s site, you’ll find a Fatima Pilgrimage novena. Click to open the PDF for each of the nine days. And place a lit candle in your window each night.
#PILGRIMBYTHEHEART | Shrine of Fatima
Fatima Movie
Have you seen the Fatima Movie? It was originally released in 2020 in 215 theaters and then in 2021 to 380 AMC Theaters. Don’t worry if you missed it. You can still catch it online. Find out where and watch the trailer.
Fatima | Fatima The Movie
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