# Our Lady of Fatima: I am your mother
*2015-05-12*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the spiritual benefits of the First Saturday devotions.

## The Devotions of May

Today is May 13th, the day we honor Our Lady of Fatima. I just completed the novena yesterday, and I hope you had a chance to pray as well. If not, there is always today or tomorrow to start again.

## The First Saturday Devotion

Part of the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima involves the First Saturday of the month. The practice asks you to perform three things on that Saturday, or within a seven-day period: pray the Rosary, go to confession, and receive Holy Communion. I was able to do this by attending a 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday. Since confessions were held at 4:00 p.m., I had time between 4:30 and 5:00 to pray the Rosary while waiting for Mass to start. It is not that difficult to do, and the graces received from observing the First Saturdays are very rewarding.

## Prayer: I Am Your Mother

In honor of Our Lady, we pray: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O tender, loving Mother, Virgin most prudent, who are the Mother of our Redeemer, I greet you today with the greatest love for which your children's hearts can love you. As a mother, yes, I am your child, and as I am helpless, I draw near to the passion of the heart of your divine Son. With him, I greet you as the purest of creatures, for you were formed in accordance with the desires and perfection of God, three times holy.

Conceived without original sin, free from corruption, you have always been faithful to the prompting of graces, and your soul has been enriched with such merits so as to be raised above all creatures, chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ. You guarded him in the sanctuary of your utmost purity; he who came to give life to souls began his own human life in you, and from you received his nourishment.

Incomparable Virgin, Immaculate Virgin, the light of the most holy Trinity, admired by the angels and the saints. You are the light of heaven, the morning star, the rose that blossomed in the spring, the whitish lily, the delicate and graceful iris, the scented violet—the garden tended and reserved to give delight to the kingdom of heaven.

You are my Mother, O Virgin most prudent, precious ark in which all virtues are enclosed. You are my Mother, O most powerful Virgin, O merciful Virgin, O faithful Virgin. You are my Mother, refuge of sinners. I greet you and rejoice at the sight of so many gifts which the Almighty has granted you, and of so many privileges with which he has crowned you. May you be blessed and praised. Mother of poor sinners, have mercy on us; enclose us within your maternal protection.

I greet you in the name of all men and women, of all the saints, and of all the angels. I would like to love you with your own love and the love of the most zealous seraphim. And as this would still be too little to satisfy my desires, I greet you and love you through the Father and through the Son, who is my Redeemer, my Savior, and our bridegroom. I greet you with the purity of the Holy Spirit and with the holiness of the adorable Trinity. Through these divine persons, I bless you and desire to give you always the constant and purest praise of your child.

O incomparable Virgin, bless me because I am your child. Bless all men and women. Protect them and pray for them to the Almighty, who refuses nothing to you. Farewell, tender and most beloved Mother. I greet you night and day, in time and eternity. Amen.