On the 13th of May 1917, around midday, Our Lady appeared for the first time to the three young shepherds Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, while they were pasturing their sheep in a hollow dotted with holm oaks and olive trees, known locally as the Cova do Iria (C. Barthas, The Virgin of Fatima, Madrid, 1963). The Blessed Virgin asked the children to return there on the thirteenth of each month for the following six months.

The message she revealed to them speaks about penance for sins, about saying the Rosary, and the consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. Each time the beautiful Lady appeared to the children she asked them to say the Rosary every day. She also taught them a prayer to say often in which they would offer God the events of their lives and especially many small mortifications and sacrifices: "0 Jesus, this is for love of you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the offences made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

In August the Blessed Virgin promised to give the children a sign that would be seen by everybody, as a proof of the truth of her message. In each apparition she reminded them to pray for the conversion of sinners by offering sacrifices and saying the Rosary. On the 13th of October there took place what is known as the miracle of the sun. Tens of thousands of people who were present in the Cova do Iria that day witnessed the extraordinary event; it was seen even by people many miles away. On that occasion Our Lady told the children that she was the Virgin of the Rosary. She also told them: ‘Men have to mend their ways and ask for pardon for their sins . . . They shouldn’t offend Our Lord any more; he is already far too much offended.’

P ope John Paul II, speaking in 1987, recalled his visit to Fatima in 1982 where he went, he said, with my Rosary in my hand, with Mary’s name on my lips and the song of merry in my heart, to give thanks to Our Lady for his having survived the assassination attempt on his life the previous year. The apparitions at Fatima in 1917, testified to extraordinary signs, form as it were a point of reference and enlightenment for our century. Mary, our heavenly Mother, came to awaken men’s consciences, to illuminate the authentic meaning of life, to call men to conversion from sin and to spiritual fervor, to inflame souls with love for God and with charity towards their neighbor. Mary came to help us, because many, unfortunately, do not wish to accept the invitation of the Son of God to return to their Father’s house.

From her sanctuary at Fatima Mary renews even today her maternal and urgent petition: the conversion to Truth and Grace; the return to the life of the sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist; the devotion to her Immaculate Heart, accompanied by a spirit of penance (John Paul ll, Angelus, 26 July 1987).

T oday we can ask ourselves: how well do we respond to the frequent inspirations of the Holy Spirit to purify our souls, especially through the sacrament of Penance? How constant are we at making reparation for our own past sins and for the sins of mankind? How well do we say the Rosary, especially during this month of May? Can we be said to have ‘ambitious’ expectations as regards the friends and companions we want to lead, like repentant prodigals, humbly back to Christ?

With permission from Scepter UK.  Short excerpt from IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD by Francis Fernandez.

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