# Centenary of the miracle of the sun and a rosary for world peace
*2017-10-14*

> Bill Young reflects on the 100th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima and leads a full devotional rosary for world peace.

## Celebrating Our Lady of Fatima

Yesterday, October 13th, marked the 100th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. I was fortunate enough to attend a special Mass at St. Gregory's in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. It was a beautiful experience, celebrated by a former deacon of St. David's who was ordained as a priest this past May 13th. He spoke movingly about using his hands to do work for Mary and Our Lady of Fatima. We were wearing our Workout Rosary shirts, and the Father hinted that he might get one as well. The heart of this effort is simply honoring Mary, our Mother, and praying the rosary as she asked us to do.

## A Prayer for World Peace

Today, I am offering a rosary for world peace. In these times of world upheaval, fraught with war and pain, we turn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for comfort and reconciliation. Through our consecration and solidarity in prayer, we commend the suffering of humanity to her care, asking for her holy intercession to bring the world back to her Son and achieve a true and lasting peace.

## The Joyful Mysteries

Following the traditional structure of the rosary, we meditated on the Joyful Mysteries. We offered these intentions for married couples to grow in love, for children to receive a Christian education, for doctors and nurses to protect human life, for priests to remain faithful to Christ and the Church, and for the religious to find joy in their consecration.

We reflected on the Incarnation, where the Word was made flesh so that we might learn to live as children of God; the Visitation, where Elizabeth leaped for joy at the presence of Christ in Mary's womb; the Birth of the Son of God, which brought our salvation into the world; the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, recognizing Him as the light of our life; and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, reminding us that He must be in His Father's house.

## The Litany of Loreto and St. Callistus I

We concluded our prayer with the Hail Holy Queen and the Litany of Loreto, invoking the many titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary—from the Tower of Ivory to the Queen of Peace. 

Today, October 14th, is also the feast day of Saint Callistus I. He served the early Church during a time of great struggle and faced significant opposition, including an antipope who challenged his leadership for sixteen years. St. Callistus is remembered for his mercy, promoting the idea that God is a merciful God and that sinners could repent and return to communion with the Lord, which was a significant pastoral shift in the early Church.

*Through the intercession of Mary and the example of saints like Callistus I, we are called to seek repentance and pray fervently for peace in a troubled world.*