# Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Fatima
*2022-05-13*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke commemorate the anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima through prayer, reflection on the priesthood, and the recitation of the Chaplets of Our Lady of Fatima and Divine Mercy.

## Anniversaries and Gratitude

Today is May 13th, the anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima's appearances to the three shepherd children in Portugal. Reflecting on this day five years ago, we remember our consecration through the 33 days of prayer at St. David's Catholic Church in Davie, Florida. It was a special day marked by a dedicated Mass with vestments featuring Our Lady of Fatima.

We also celebrate the anniversary of the ordination of Father Gary. He is a wonderful priest whom I first got to know at St. Gregory Parish and later at St. David's. I believe he is now serving at All Saints Church in Broward County. If any of you know him or attend All Saints, please say hello and let him know we are praying for him on his anniversary.

## The Chaplet of Our Lady of Fatima

To honor the feast, we are continuing the Chaplet of Our Lady of Fatima. We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. After the Apostles' Creed, we reflect on the following days:

On the second day, we ask the Most Pure Virgin, who appeared in white as snow, to help us appreciate heavenly gifts and avoid offending our neighbors. The third day focuses on Mary as the Mother of all sinners, asking for the grace of perfect contrition so we may confess our sins with sincerity in the Holy Sacrament. The fourth day honors the Queen of the Holy Rosary, asking for a great love for prayer and the devotion of the Rosary.

On the fifth day, we turn to the Queen of Peace, asking for peace and prosperity to bloom through faith and Christian virtue. The sixth day recognizes the Refuge of Sinners, praying for a horror of sin—especially impurity—and zeal for the salvation of souls. The seventh day reflects on illness as a means of salvation, asking for the grace to accept God's will without complaint. The eighth day asks for a love for the mysteries of our redemption, and the ninth day honors Our Lady of Sorrows, praying for the conversion of Russia and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Following our devotion to Our Lady, we move into the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We begin by invoking the ocean of mercy to open upon the whole world. After the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles' Creed, we offer the prayers for the sake of the sorrowful passion of Jesus, asking for mercy on us and on the whole world.

We also include the meditation for the fifth day of the novena, focusing on Jesus as the meek and humble of heart. We pray for the souls of little children, who most closely resemble the heart of Jesus and serve as earthly angels. We conclude this portion with the Litany of Divine Mercy, affirming our trust in the Divine Mercy that encompasses the universe, heals us from the fires of hell, and is the only hope for despairing souls.

## Intercessions and Hope

We close today with special intentions for the sick, particularly those suffering from cancer. I personally pray for my friend and former co-worker, Annette. While the Lord may not always cure us in this life, we trust in the promise that our sufferings can secure a place for us in heaven.

We also pray for those affected by wars and displacement. We look forward to the promised thousand-year reign of Jesus, where there will be no more death, sickness, or hatred—only the love of God. Though Satan places obstacles in our path, we know that in the end, he will not win. Our spiritual mother, Mary, will lead us to the final victory.

*Through the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, we find the strength to endure our crosses and the hope of eternal peace in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.*