Tomorrow is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. Her feast falls on May 13 because that was the first of the 6 apparitions in which she appeared to the 3 children at Fatima. It was during the last apparition, on Oct. 13, that she revealed herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary” (Our Lady of the Cape is the “Queen of the Holy Rosary”—that shrine in Trois-Riviers, Canada, being the #1 Rosary Shrine in all of North America). Here are some facts about the Fatima apparitions which we Catholics and devotees of the Immaculata should learn, live and spread so that devotion of the Immaculate Heart may be alongside that of her Son’s Sacred Heart:
MAY 13, 1917
- Mary affirmed Purgatory, Heaven and Hell all in the first apparition by saying, “I come from Heaven.” (She discussed Purgatory later in this apparition, and provides a vision of Hell in another apparition.) Contrary to the Secularism of those times (and ours) and of the intolerant Socialist government then in power in Portugal, this simple affirmation undermines the whole vision of revolutionary atheist ideologies. Heaven implies objective truth, judgment and the eternal consequences—and worth—of our actions on earth.
- Pray many Rosaries: Lucia then asked if they would go to Heaven and she was told yes, she and Jacinta would go to Heaven, but Francisco would need to say many Rosaries first. We too should pray many Rosaries.
- Redemptive suffering: In Mary’s words, “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners?”
JUNE 13, 1917
- Daily Rosary & world peace (by Mary): “Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and the end of war.” The call to pray a Rosary every day is linked to world peace and ending wars. Lucia later asked Our Lady about this, and Mary said to pray the Rosary “in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary … because only she can help you” (Lucia’s Memoirs, p. 161)
- Spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart throughout the world: “I will take Jacinta and Francisco shortly; but you [Lucia] will stay here for some time to come. Jesus wants to use you to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish the devotion to my Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by me to adorn His throne.”
- Immaculate Heart is a refuge: “… my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”
I trust that our Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a refuge for many souls. We now have a little house on the street behind our shrine (Crystal Lake Drive) in which we, at Terra Sancta Ministries, hope to soon welcome people to come stay and pray in—like a retreat house. It is called “Saint Joseph House” as the sign behind it indicates. The Blessed Mother is mightily moving things to prepare this special place to be even more of a refuge than ever before—a supernatural or spiritual refuge for souls in these apocalyptic times and a natural refuge for our neighbors and anyone who visits.
Due to the popularity of our Noon First Saturday Mass, we will offer TWO MASSES on each First Saturday beginning in June. Thus, on Saturday, June 6, we will offer a 9:00 am Mass IN ADDITION to our normal Noon Mass. The 9:00 am Mass will be shorter and simpler to accommodate those for whom this time slot is better. I will begin hearing Confessions at 8:30 am (when doors open) and can hear them afterwards. Another priest can come at 10:15 am to hear Confessions.
There will be no Evening of Reparation in May. Also, starting in June, the Evening of Reparation will begin one hour earlier with doors opening at 5:30 pm (with Exposition & Confession), a 6:00 pm Holy Hour and the Mass of Reparation to follow (around 7:05 pm). That way, we will conclude around 8:00 pm.
To communicate with me, please email me directly at my NEW EMAIL abunacalcio1982@gmail.com or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries