Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fátima is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared to three shepherd children at Fátima, Portugal on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on this day of this year.

The three children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins, siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Lucia went on to enter the religious life and remained a nun until her death in 2005. The younger two died in the flu epidemic of 1919. Pope John Paul II declared the siblings "blessed" in 2000.

A title often associated with Our Lady of Fatima is that of Our Lady of the Rosary because the children related that the Lady in the apparition specifically identified Herself as "the Lady of the Rosary." It is also common to see a combination of these titles, i.e., Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima.

May is considered the month of Mary. In previous generations children processed into churches to place flowers at the foot of Mary and her statues were crowned with crowns of flowers. Another tradition, much more popular with the older folk is the prayer of the Rosary. The rosary in essence is both a tool of devotion and meditation in which Mary is honored as the Theotokos while contemplating and entering into the depth of the mysteries of her Son's life.

Our lives are often full of appointments, deadlines, phone calls, emails, entertainment, duties, and distractions that silence and solitude often are commodities (even an inconvenience). But for the spiritual seeker, however, silence and solitude is the place of encounter where God speaks eloquently and one is refreshed, nourished and loved.

The Rosary, in it's simple repetition and prayers invites one into that silence. Futheremore, the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima encouraged, is a tool to help us persevere in holiness and purity in our journey toward salvation.

Personally, I often use the times I have for a long walk to pray the Rosary. Usually, this is in the mornings. With the Rosary in my hand, the Lord's life in my mind, and Mary by my side, grace abounds for the rest of the day.

During this month of May I invite you to pray the Rosary. Cast yourself into the loving arms of Mother Mary where she holds us, as she once held her Son, in tender care before her Son. I often carry rosaries with me to give to people. If you see me, ask for one if you need one.

I am making attempts to post more on Mary during this month.

Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for Us!