Our Lady of Fatima—Still at Work!

A friend had asked me to call and pray with her. We live over 150 miles apart. I called at the 8 pm time requested and had opened my Bible which was in a leather cover. When praying with someone, the Bible is always kept at hand so we can seek a Word from God about any situation. Because the Bible was in the Leather Cover, this time it had opened to the back of the case where I had pictures and other spiritual notes/pamphlets kept. I started to leaf through them mindlessly.

When she answered, I asked her if this was still a good time to pray. She was breathless and sounded excited and was telling me that she had just come from visiting a ‘touring’ Lady of Fatima statue. As she spoke the words Our Lady of Fatima—my eyes looked at what was in my hand, and I smiled, thinking ‘Wow.’ In my hand was a tiny brochure with the word “Fatima” and a picture of the statue of Mary beside it. I said “Girl you are not going to believe this, but guess what I am holding---and shared with her the God-incident that just happened.

I then carefully read every word of this tiny leaflet—knowing that THOSE were the words God wanted us to hear that night as we prayed. We both had been going through a few months of struggle and job changes and share the common uncertainty of ‘What now, God—what are You wanting me to do?” (If you have read my last blogs you know my journey well.)

By the time I was through reading, the message from God was very clear that He wanted us to receive. “Pray these prayers, pray as Our Lady of Fatima asked and know that over the next six months, especially on the 13 of the month---you will witness once more the Power and Presence of God in your life and this world. Most importantly---“Trust in Me, do not be discouraged and live your life in Communion with me.” (Part of Mary’s messages to the children read from the leaflet was these words--"Don't be discouraged, I will not abandon you ever. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and through it will conduct you to God." When I had read them, her words resounded strongly in my heart!!

I know beyond a doubt that a message was sent from Mary and God to us that night via in His mysterious ways and must be shared with all who love and adore and hope in God.

Especially the prayers that the Angel gave the children when He appeared to them before Mary did. Let us memorize them and keep them in our heart.

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You." The Angel said: "Pray this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications."

Later the Angel told the children:

"Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. By this you will bring peace to your country. I'm its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all accept and bear with submission all the suffering the Lord will send you."

One of the main messages that Mary gave the children was about Russia and Communism. “If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecution of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed...But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world".

More than ever we need to again praynot only for Russia but because of the increase of evil in ALL PARTS of the world.

"Pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices for the sinners. You know that many souls go the hell because there is none who pray for them."

When I read that message she gave them, it made me wonder if I would be held accountable for someone who I failed to pray for. I know that if someone is hurting and I ignore the need---it would be the same as turning my back on Jesus. So perhaps we need to think more about the importance of our prayers for others.

On December 10, 1925, Sister Lucy received an apparition by the Child Jesus and the Virgin Mary in her convent cell. The Holy Virgin shown her a Heart surrounded by thorns, Our Lady said to her:

"See, My daughter, My heart surrounded by thorns which ungrateful men pierce at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude... Say to all those who:

• for five months, on the first Saturday, confess,
• receive Holy Communion,
• recite the Rosary
• and keep Me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, in a spirit of reparation,

I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls."

When I read this section in the little leaflet, I knew that God was asking me to “Come and obey this request, for my own spiritual health and for all those I love—and for all those who have no one to pray for them. God was giving me a peace that all He wanted from me---were my prayers and obedience to love. That is all He is asking any of us when He says, "Come follow Me."

So, even after 100 years since her apparition in Portugal to three little children—Our Lady of Fatima is still hard at work, and Thank God she is.