Sunday, May 13, 2007


On May 13th, 1917, The Blessed virgin Mary appeared to 3 shepard children in Portugal near the small village of Fatima. The Children's names were Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. Mary told the children to pray the rosary everyday, and to perform acts of penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. At first the children's message of Mary's appearance was doubted my many. Mary had promised the children that she would perform a miracle on the 13th of October (She told the children to come to the area where she would appear every 13th of the month for 6 months starting on May 13th. And so she would do the miracle on the last of those promised appearances.) so that everyone would know the truth of Fatima. Sure enough on October 13th in front of 70,000 people the miracle occurred. It seemed that sun began to dance in the sky and almost fall to the ground but then suddenly return to normal. Although it had been raining up to the time of the miracle, the rain suddenly stopped and everyone's clothes were found dry. Read More.
But why did Mary appear to these children in the first place? What was the miracle proving? In a few words we could say the Blessed Virgin appeared because of sin and a call to repentance. Our Lady showed the children her Immaculate Heart encircled with a crown of thorns. She said the thorns were all of the blasphemies done against her Immaculate Heart. Our Lord Jesus later revealed to Lucia what these blasphemies were.
He said, "My daughter, the motive is simple: there are 5 ways in which people offend and blaspheme against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 1.The blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception
2.Against her virginity
3.Against her Divine Maternity, refusing at the same time to accept her as the Mother of all mankind. 4.Those who try publicly to implant in the children's hearts indifference, contempt and even hate against this Immaculate Mother.
5.Those who insult her directly in her sacred statues.
And here is where the First Saturdays devotion comes in. Our Lady of Fatima told Lucia on December 10, 1925, " My daughter, look at my Heart surrounded with the thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it 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 all the graces necessary for salvation all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Confession and receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for a quarter of an hour while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."
Our Lady gives us Five Saturdays to make reparation for the five sorts of blasphemies done to her. (BTW, the First Saturday is just the very first Saturday of the month. Also, do not think that the First Saturday devotion is limited to five Saturdays. It is encouraged to be done every first Saturday.) This exercise is a very easy thing for Catholics everywhere to do. Go to confession, pray the rosary, receive Holy Communion in a state of grace, and meditate on the decades of the rosary for 15 minutes for reparation to Immaculate Heart. (Remember, every act in the devotion is for reparation to the Immaculate Heart) That's all. August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us all make firm resolutions to never forget our Mother's request for our help in the work of Jesus Christ to bring all souls to Him! Official Site, Good Fatima Movie Good Fatima Book

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