The story begins in the village of Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. On that pivotal day near that tiny village, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, appeared to three young peasant children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia; ages 10, 9 and 7. As was the custom, these youngsters were tending their family’s sheep when “a Lady all in white, more brilliant than the sun… indescribably beautiful,” standing above a bush, appeared to the youngsters. From May through October 1917, the Lady appeared and spoke to the children on the 13th day of each month. She delivered a series of messages during that time to these children which can be summarised with three invitations:
- Learn to pray the rosary, the prayer that can change the world.
The rosary is incredibly powerful. It has the power to bring peace, to heal, to make a difference in your life, the lives of your loved ones, and in the world. The rosary settles our hearts and minds. We live hectic lives in a chaotic world, a world troubled by war, violence, and brokenness. Amidst the chaos and confusion, our souls yearn for peace and clarity. How does the rosary bring us that serenity? It puts things in perspective and allows us to see things as they really are; it reaches deep down into our souls and puts us at ease, creating a peace that is rare and beautiful and It teaches us to slow down, calm down, let go, offer our struggles to God, and listen.
- Get spiritually healthy with penance and reparation.
God has an incredible dream for you, one that can fulfill your deepest desires and longings. But we often get distracted. We make the mistake of hoping that certain people or things will fill us, but they can pull us away from God. Mary invites us back. Over and over again at Fatima, Mary encouraged us to turn away from the things in our lives that hold us back. The things that keep us from finding the happiness God wants for us. But how do we get there? Even if we want to follow God’s dream for us, actually doing that can seem intimidating. Remember it’s a journey. And God is with us each step of the way. Simply take one small step forward, especially when it is difficult.
- Let Mary guide you to lasting happiness.
Mary is an incredible example of someone who embraced and lived God’s dream for her. Her yes changed the world. Mary can give us the courage and hope to say yes to God’s dream for our own lives. She can help us get to know Jesus in a way that nobody else can. She offers an unique perspective as His mother. Nobody sees the life of a child the way the child’s mother does—not even the father. This is Mary’s perspective of Jesus’ life. Imagine what we can learn from her! Just as Mary was incredibly close to Jesus on earth, she remains close to Him now in heaven. Mary’s greatest desire is to bring us to her son. All we have to do is ask, and she will bring us, along with all our desires, needs, and struggles, directly to her son.
Will You Accept Mary’s Invitation?
It’s a simple message. Pray the rosary. Get spiritually healthy. Let Mary guide you. At times it can be challenging, but the moment we open ourselves up to God’s dream for us is the moment miracles begin to happen in our lives. Will you accept the invitation?
Ashodi Ferro