ON MAY 13, we observe the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, began on 13 May 1917. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children—Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. She asked them to devote themselves, make sacrifices, do penance and pray the rosary every day to bring peace to the world. The last apparition occurred on October 13, when Our Lady asked people to say the rosary and not to “offend Our Lord no more, for he is already much offended.”
Our Lady of Fatima appeared during the First World War (1914 to 1918) when peace seemed unreachable. At that time, Pope Benedict XV endeavoured to negotiate peace among nations but unfortunately, could not change the hearts of the warring countries. On the 5 May 1917, Pope Benedict issued an apostolic letter to all the bishops in the world, asking the faithful to pray to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus through the intercession of Mother Mary to grant peace to the world.
The pope also decreed that the invocation “Queen of Peace” be added to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Coincidentally, eight days later—May 13—God sent Mary appeared in Fatima to proclaim the message of redemption to the world via the three shepherd children.
For over a century the message of Fatima has lived on within the Church. Many dedicated faithful pray and enthusiastically promote the message of Fatima in the hope that people will do penance in times of chaos and challenge in the modern era.
Last year, when the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic swept over the world, the shrine of Fatima in Portugal was deserted. Even without pilgrims, the anniversary celebration of the Marian apparitions took place with many participating via livestream on the Internet.
The pandemic has entered another year and the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is approaching. Around the world, people are subject to health risks, restrictive and time consuming of anti-pandemic measures, isolation due to reduced socialising, and related financial pressures. There is a desire for peace in their hearts.
The Fatima message calls us to pray and do penance. It is worth mentioning that a year before the three shepherd children witnessed the Marian apparitions, God, in order to prepare them to accept this mission, had already sent an angel to remind them to pray. Thus, despite a year of seeming helplessness, we should also make good faith preparation.
At the closing of the Centenary of the Fatima Apparitions in 2017, Pope Francis sent a message to the faithful, “Never be afraid, God is infinitely greater than all of our problems. He loves us very much. Go forward in your journey without losing sight of the Mother, like a child who feels safe when close to his mother, we too are safe when close to Our Lady, who is our protection. Lastly, may I suggest that you never put the rosary aside, and never give up the rosary. Please continue to recite it as Our Lady asked.” SE
