The Great Promise of Our Lady of Fatima

    The Great Promise of Our Lady of Fatima

 

 

Our Lady appeared at Fatima in 1917  to three little children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, to warn the world, but also to bring a message of hope: “Finally my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”

Picture taken in Coimbra, Portugal, Sister Lucia’s Memorial Museum

In 1925  Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia, rested one hand on Lucia’s shoulder, while in the other hand she held a heart surrounded with thorns. Then Our Lady said to Lucia:

“Look, my daughter, at my Heart surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude… You, at least, try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the first Saturday for five consecutive months,

1. go to Confession,
2. receive the Holy Communion
3. recite five decades of the Rosary
4. keep me a company for 15 minutes while meditating of the mysteries of the Rosary, with intention of making reparation.”

This is how the Five First Saturday devotion came about. Our Heavenly Mother gave it to Sister Lucia, encouraging the faithful to pray the Rosary more and more, meditating on it and receiving the Sacraments of the Confession and the Eucharist.

Let’s not forget that Our Lady and Our Lord Jesus are hurt every single moment by countless sins. 

We encourage you to start this devotion, it is fine and purifying for our soul, and it helps to console Our Heavenly Mother. 

Remember this divine formula: 5 First Saturdays= Confession+ Mass & Eucharist +Rosary & 15.min Meditation+Intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Jesus, it is for Your love, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins done against the Immaculate Heart of Mary

WRAPPED IN THE LOVE OF GOD FOR THE WORLD

The theme of the shrine of Fatima for the pastoral year 2013/14 is taken from the recommendation of Our Lady to the children, advising them that they could always offer Prayers and sacrifices and say: ‘O Jesus, it is for Your love, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins done against the Immaculate Heart of Mary”. This is a wonderful Theme that implies an understanding of the great mystery of love that He has for us and our love in return for this desire so not to deny the One who give us everything so we lack nothing.

It is for your Love. Who meditates on the love of Jesus the Redeemer, Good Shepherd, Good Samaritan, Friend of sinners, who loves us without end, and of the Cross is ultimate proof of this love for us. We cannot help but want to give back as much love, praise, reparation, and suffering, meditating on the love that Jesus has given us so that we will blossom into a desire to love him more and better. Everything is of love for him: prayer, suffering, work, penance, for our entire life, every second. We are a “living sacrifice” offered with Christ through love, since it was the love of Him that saved us as we tried to love Him and to love the world with that same love, being contributors in redemption.

The conversion of sinners. The first request proposed by Our Lady is the conversion of sinners. The love of Jesus is offered to achieve the grace of the conversion of sinners. Everyone who is baptized has this responsibility: to be with Christ the Redeemer, collaborating in the conversion of sinners, offer everything so that the world may be saved and find the love of Jesus, His Word and His Truth. The sin that exists in the world needs reparation which is another name for love. Sinners are in need of conversion and only love, life offered in love can help them convert. Everyone is responsible for this development, working together for this challenge.

In reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This Lady is our Mother We must make reparation for the sins that offend and hurt. We have to console. There are lots of profanity, insults, profanity on the name of the Virgin Mary, many denials of Her virtue, of Her Immaculate Conception, Her virginity. There are many offenses against Her heart, against Her pictures, against Her love and Her mission. Reparation is trying to love this Lady and Her Heart for those who do not love Her and who offend Her. This Mother deserves all the love in the hearts of Her sons and daughters. We pray for this love for those who do not love and who do not pray to Her and keep Her company by making this obligation.

Father Dário P. Pedroso, SJ

Spiritual exercises for lent: Day 40

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 40

It is a time to invest in new religious material i.e.  the Bible, Catholic Magazine or Newspaper, Catechism book, Biography of Saints, Rosary beads or statue. 

Spiritual exercises for lent: Day 39

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 39

Start the Divine Mercy Novena today. It starts on Good Friday and finishes on the second Easter Sunday. Read more about Novena on http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/novena.htm and the Divine Mercy Sunday on https://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/feast.htm

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 38

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 38

Print out or write down The Ten Commandments and post it on the wall or fridge as a reminder of the way God wants you to love Him.

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 37

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 37

Make an offering to God, be it a sacrifice or certain situation or event, something you can create or do, or even an inspiration. Remember that every word and deed counts for eternity.

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 36

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 36

Learn about the traditions of the Catholic Church for mayor feast days and solemnities like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, celebration of Matrimony, etc.

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 33

Get rid of the bad habits, like using God’s name in vain (such a bad habit for so many Catholics) by replacing the Lord’s name (Jesus, God, etc.) with another word to avoid blasphemy that causes sin.

 

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 34

Introduce yourself to the lives of the saints  i.e.three Shepherds of Fatima, Saint Padre Pio, St Bernadette, St Teresa of Lisieux, St Francis of Assisi, etc.

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 31 & 32

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 31

Organise a retreat or pilgrimage for this year. It may be a visit to a pilgrimage place, spoken or silent retreat. Retreat helps to refresh  your spirit and pilgrimage helps to gain extra graces.

 

Spiritual Exercises for lent: Day 32

Record good things what happen to you day after day. Soon you will realise how fortunate and blessed you are!

Spiritual Exercises for Lent:Day 27 & 28

Spiritual Exercises for Lent: Day 27

Pray for the Souls in Purgatory who have nobody to pray for them

 

Spiritual Exercises for Lent: Day 28

Pray for your deceased relatives and friends