# Are We 100% In? A Prayer for Illness to Bring Forth Good
*2017-08-02*

> Bill Young reflects on the Fatima prayer given by Our Lady in 1917, urging listeners to be fully committed to Mary by praying it whenever they suffer, and offers a heartfelt prayer asking God to turn illness into good.

## Why the Fatima Prayer Matters

In 1917, on July 13, Our Lady of Fatima gave the children a short, sacrificial prayer: “O Jesus, this is for love of You, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Mary did not give it merely for the children to repeat; she intended it to be shared with the whole world. That is why we continue to distribute it, as we did on May 13 when we gave away many copies at Mass.

The prayer’s purpose is clear: it offers our suffering as a means of conversion and reparation. Whether we say it or not does not stop suffering, but it directs our pain toward a holy purpose.

## Being “100 % In” with Mary

To be “100 % in” means to place Mary at the center of our spiritual life, just as we place Christ. Some priests may overlook mentioning Mary on feast days, but the reality is that Mary is the Mother of God for all of us, everywhere—from Fatima to Cooper City. When we consecrate ourselves to her, we gain a spiritual shield and a powerful weapon for conversion.

I encourage everyone to undertake the 33‑day “Morning Glory” devotion, which helps us understand what Mary wants: total fidelity. We may never achieve perfection, but striving for 100 % in keeps us moving toward that goal.

## Putting the Prayer into Practice

Whenever we experience a headache, heartache, or any illness, we should pray the Fatima prayer. It is not a mere ritual; it is a request for the conversion of sinners, which includes ourselves. I have shared this prayer with friends facing job loss, homelessness, and even cancer. Even when I did not know the full extent of their suffering, Mary already knew and interceded.

The prayer reminds us that God knows every hair on our head and is present in every moment of pain. By offering our suffering in this way, we unite our small pains with Christ’s great suffering, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us.

## A Simple Prayer for Illness

Here is the prayer we are asked to say when illness strikes:

“Lord, Your Spirit is always good and gentle. Grant me grace so that I may not act unchristianly in the condition You have permitted me to be in. May I recognize You as my Father and God, whatever my physical or mental state. You gave me health to serve You, and now You permit illness; do not let me use it with impatience. Keep me from the sadness that self‑pity brings, and may I desire health and life only to use them for You. Dispose of my health, illness, life, and death as You please, for Your glory, my salvation, and the good of the Church. May I accept Your will and glorify You in my suffering, united with Your own Passion. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that my suffering may bring me closer to You.”

We repeat the original Fatima prayer after this: “O Jesus, this is for love of You, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

Memorize it, pray it in every trial, and let it become a habit as natural as the Rosary.

*When we are 100 % in with Mary, even our smallest suffering becomes a powerful offering for conversion and reparation.*