Our Lady of Fatima: The Fifth Apparition

In May 1917, Our Blessed Mother began a series of visits with three Portuguese shepherd children: Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. During the months that followed the initial visitation, the three visionaries were graced with six messages from the Blessed Virgin, as well as three apparitions of the “Angel of Portugal,” all of which culminated in the spectacular “Miracle of the Sun,” witnessed by tens of thousands of the faithful. Each month, on the 13th day, Our Lady of Fatima delivered a message to the children-- a message of the importance of devotion to the Immaculate Heart and praying the Rosary—through which the ruinous course of humanity could be converted and redeemed.

During her last apparition, Our Lady had told the children: “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because they have no one to make sacrifices and pray for them.” They had taken her message to heart, and renewed both their prayers and their acts of penance. However, they were mistreated by both their friends and neighbors, as well as the government and the press. This did not diminish the faith of the visionaries, nor the steady stream of pilgrims already coming to Fatima.

Despite the ridicule and jokes of the secular, atheistic press, more than 30,000 people gathered in the Cova on September 13, 1917. Whether drawn by devotion or curiosity, they prayed the Rosary while awaiting the arrival of the visionaries and Our Blessed Mother. Lucia wrote in her journal: “…with difficulty we were able to go through. The path was crowded with people, everyone wanted to see and touch us. Many people of the village came to ask us to present their needs and intentions to Our Lady. Others not able to come near us cried out from far away. We heard . . . . . ask Our Lady to heal my invalid son . . . my blind son . . . my deaf daughter . .. to bring back my husband from the war . . . for conversion of a sinner . . . for me sick of tuberculosis . . . etc. All human miseries became evident and some cried out from the trees.”

Once Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta began to pray their Rosary, the characteristic flash of light (what Lucia referred to as “a reflection of light”) occurred, and Lucia said, "What do you want of me?"

Our Blessed Mother had appeared on the holm oak. She replied, “Continue the Rosary, my children. Say it every day that the war may end. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world.”

Mary, Mother of God, then cautioned the children that their penances were becoming too severe. She said, “God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to wear the cords to bed. Keep them on during the day.”

"I have the petitions of many for your help,” Lucia bravely inquired. “Will you assist a little girl who is deaf and dumb?"

Mary smiled and replied, “She will improve within the year.”

"And the conversions that some have asked to have brought about? The cures of the sick ones?"

"Some I will cure, and some I will not.” And then Our Lady of Fatima again promised the Miracle of the Sun: “In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.”

With these last words, the Lady rose and disappeared in the heavens, as Lucia called to the crowd, "If you wish to see her --- look! Look!" Of course, the onlookers could not see Our Blessed Mother, but did observe a small white cloud ascending into the sky.

Our Lady of Fatima would return on the thirteenth day of October, as promised, continuing her message of penance and reparation, sacrifice, and conversion of sinners. On that day, the great Miracle of the Sun would occur. In being invited to witness that miracle, we are also being invited (along with the children) to put our trust in Our Lady – to preserve confidence in the as yet unseen. We are asked to exercise faith, but a faith which shall be rewarded in a mystical way with a powerful motive of credibility – a reason for believing and trusting in her and in her intercession – a miracle!

Through prayers of adoration and reparation, we turn to Our Lady of Fatima—to whom God has entrusted our redemption through her grace and cooperation with her divine spouse—to rectify the state of the world, reduce the influence of evil, save the sinful, and draw ourselves closer to Our God through devotion to the Immaculate Heart


Oh my Jesus,
Forgive us our sins.
Save us from the fires of Hell.
Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Your Mercy.
Amen.

Inspired by the origins and spiritual history of the Holy Rosary, we continue our meditation on the psalms, one each day, in order, for 150 days.

Psalm: Psalm 141: Prayer of a Just Man to be Saved from Wickedness

1 O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me.
Hear my voice when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies.
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
6 their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
7 They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth,
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave."
8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
from the traps set by evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.



Day 255 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Faith in the Lord and Our Blessed Mother; Conversion of sinners.
Requested Intentions: For a daughter’s successful relationship (M); For a relationship sanctified by God (M); For health of father; For canonization of Pope John Paul II (A); For the conversion of a family (L); For the ill (A); For the health of a family (I); For a father’s successful surgery and recovery (G); For those who are ill, and their caretakers (D); For the safety of a sister who is traveling (A); Recovery of mother with cancer (R); Successful acquisition of a visa (T); Restoration of a marriage (A); For employment and health of mother (G); Successful employment (M); Restoration of a family, End to brother's addiction, Successful marriage (R); Employment (I); Successful recovery of a mother; for all stroke victims (D); Successful return to the faith (A); Emotional, physical, and financial healing (D); Diagnosis and recovery (A); For a successful relationship (J); Those suffering from depression (J); Successful adoption (S); Healing of a father battling cancer (S).
Psalm: Psalm 141: Prayer of a Just Man to be Saved from Wickedness