On September 26th I will be flying to Portugal for two weeks and returning on October 7th, just in time for the Festa de Nossa Senhora de Fatima on October 8th. 2017 is the centenary year anniversary for the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to Lucia aged 10, Jacinta aged 7, and Francesco aged 9 years. During the next couple of weeks, you will read about the story and message of Our Lady of Fatima in this corner. However, we may forget that the six apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima to these children, were preceded with three apparitions by an Angel to prepare them for what was to come.
The first apparition of the Angel in the Spring of 1916 was to demonstrate to the children the fervent, attentive and composed manner in which everyone should pray, and the reverence we should show toward God in prayer. The Angel said, “Do not be afraid. I am the angel of peace. Pray with me.” The second apparition during the summer of 1916 came while they were playing and the Angel urged the children to pray: “Constantly offer prayers and sacrifices to the Most High,” the Angel told them. In the third apparition in the autumn of 1916, the children received Holy Communion from the Angel who demonstrated to them the proper way to receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist with loving reverence and devotion.
As I travel to Portugal, I take all of you with me in prayer to this holy place of Fatima. Also, along with visiting this holy site, I will be staying near Porto with a family there, Celeste and Jose (who have been parishioners here at Holy Infancy and come back to visit from their retirement in Portugal). My hope is to be able to soak up more of the culture and language so as to be able to better understand and serve the entire community here
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