Who
is Our Lady of Fatima?
Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children
near Fatima, Portugal. Mary asked the children to pray the rosary for
world peace, for the end of World War I, for sinners and for the conversion
of Russia. She told them, "I am the lady of the rosary."
On October 13, the Miracle of the Sun took place and
was witnessed by more than 70,000 people including the government and the
press. On a day soggy with heavy rain, the sun suddenly began to spin
and appear to be falling from the sky. When it ended the people found
themselves and the landscape completely dry.
Mary gave the children three secrets. The two
younger children died within the next three years. Lucia became a
Carmelite nun and died in 2005. Lucia, revealed the first
secret in 1927, concerning devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The
second secret was a vision of hell. The third was sealed and given to the
Pope. In 2000, Pope John Paul II directed the Holy See's Secretary of
State to reveal the third secret. It told of a bishop in white who was
shot by a group of soldiers. Many said this referred to the assassination
attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981.
The Pontif often credited Our Lady with having spared his life.
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Fatima
Prayer
(Lucia said Mary asked the following prayer be prayed during the rosary after
the Glory Be)
"O my Jesus, forgive us
our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially
those in most need of Thy Mercy."
Prayer to Our Lady of
Fatima
Most holy Virgin, who
deigned to come to Fatima, to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures
of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with a
sincere love of this devotion, in order that by meditating on the Mysteries of
our Redemption that are recalled in it, we may gather the fruits and obtain the
conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, and (name favors you are
requesting) which we ask of you in this Novena, for the greater glory of God,
for your own honor, and for the good of souls. Amen.
Our Lady of the Rosary of
Fatima, pray for us.
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