Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the Apparitions of the Blessed Mother of God, Mary most Holy at the site of Cova da Iria near the small town of Fatima in Portugal, over a century ago to young children-shepherds, namely St. Francisco Marto and St. Jacinta Marto who were siblings, and their cousin, the Venerable Lucia dos Santos. They had actually begun experiencing the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Fatima from the previous year, 1916. Historically, it was known that Mary, the Mother of God had made appearances during times and moments when wars and conflicts happened in the world, where a lot of hardships, sufferings and trials were faced by the people, and a lot of wickedness and evils were present all around everyone.

At that time, the First World War or World War I, then known as the Great War was raging throughout the world, but was particularly terrifying and devastating in Europe. While Portugal itself was not directly affected by the war, but it was at the year 1916 that Portugal entered into the Great War on the side of the Entente or the Allies against the Central Powers led by Germany. By that time, the Great War had been raging for over two years and millions had perished due to the continuing warfare and conflicts, while many millions more people were suffering because of the effects of the disruptions to their daily livelihood, the hunger and famine due to the entire national resources of many states being pooled and focused for the war efforts. It was at this tumultuous time that the Mother of God, as Our Lady of Fatima, chose to make her appearance to us all.

Initially, people were skeptical of what the three children-shepherds were experiencing and telling to them, about the apparition of a Woman at the site of Cova da Iria, which they associated with Mary, the Mother of God. The Lady in the Apparition told the three children of many things, including the prayer to end the Great War, and the call to return to peace, and for mankind to abandon all the wicked and evil deeds which they had committed through the War and many other things which had indeed angered the Lord greatly. Mary appeared to the three of them calling on them to pass on the messages and the words that she had brought with her to everyone, so that more and more people would come to turn their hearts and minds back towards the Lord, and away from the evils and wickedness which many of them had committed and led them to sin against God.

On this date of the thirteenth of May in the Year of Our Lord 1917, Mary appeared to the three children again, as she showed herself to them as a great Woman, appearing brighter than the Sun, and with light clearer and stronger than a crystal goblet filled with the clearest water, in the words of the witnesses themselves. The appearance of this Woman, who wore a white and gold-trimmed mantle, with the holy rosary upon her hands would become the inspiration of the images and statues now commonly known and venerated widely all around Christendom as Our Lady of Fatima. The Apparition told the three witnesses to tell everyone to commit themselves to the Lord, the Holy Trinity more and more, and to pray the Rosary everyday to bring an end to the war and return to peace. All those things which the Blessed Virgin had mentioned, eventually came to be, just over a year later.

There were many other things and miraculous signs and wonders which Mary as Our Lady of Fatima had shown to the three children and to many other witnesses in her series of Apparitions, as her messages and words brought upon everyone a message and reminder for them to return once again to God’s love and grace, abandoning the evils and wickedness of the world, to sin no more and to embrace wholeheartedly God’s loving and compassionate mercy, which He has always readily given to us, but yet, our stubbornness and wickedness had often prevented us from being able to receive the fullness of God’s grace, forgiveness and love. And while the messages and the words of Our Lady of Fatima, and the whole Apparition would be approved by the Church authorities, and became one of the most popular and enduring Marian devotions up to this day, but at that time, many were skeptical of the veracity and authenticity of what the three children and witnesses had seen.

That was why those three witnesses had to face scrutiny, objections and obstacles from the secular and religious authorities at that time, who questioned them and doubted them, and some did not believe that the Apparition was real or legitimate. But, through the repeated Apparitions, the many signs and miracles which Our Lady of Fatima had shown, eventually, many were convinced of the truth and authenticity of Our Lady’s appearance, that Mary had indeed appeared to the three shepherd children and through them to many others, who were therefore touched and called to propagate her words and reminders, which were all ultimately meant to direct mankind to return once again to righteousness and virtues in God. Our Lady of Fatima, as our loving adoptive Mother, has always been concerned about us, many of whom are always in the danger of losing in the battle for our souls to those who seek our destruction and downfall.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we commemorate this Feast of Our Lady of Fatima today, let us always keep in mind what the Lord Himself told to everyone in our Gospel passage today, ‘Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.’, which indirectly showed the perfect example of this faith and commitment in His own Mother Mary, who had obeyed the Lord’s will and committed herself thoroughly to whatever God had entrusted to her, that through her, many great things had been done for our salvation, by the coming of Our Lord and Saviour, incarnate in the flesh through Mary’s acceptance of her role to be the Mother of God, Our Lord and Saviour. Not only that, but Mary had dedicated herself to love her Son, and to care for everyone whom He had entrusted to her, which He did from His Cross, at the moment of His Passion and death.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, Our Lord had entrusted to us His own Mother to be our Mother, to care and love for us, at all times. At the same time, we have also been adopted by her to be like her own children. That is why it is really not surprising why she had made her many appearances all throughout history, especially during the moments and times like conflicts, wars and hardships facing the people of God, her own adopted children, who were in danger of falling into the wrong paths in life, and who were afflicted by a lot of uncertainties and hardships. Which mother would not care for her sons and daughters hence? Which mother would pretend not to know or to ignore the plight of those whom she loved? That was why Mary, as Our Lady of Fatima and her many other Apparitions, had done so much for our sake, to lead us all once again towards her Son, Our Lord and Saviour.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore renew our commitment to the Lord through His Blessed Mother, Mary, ever Virgin, Our Lady of Fatima. Let us all ask her to constantly intercede for us, and to help and guide us in our journey through life, so that amidst all the challenges, trials, hardships and dangers that we may have to face in this life, as the disciples and followers of Christ, we will continue to proceed onward ever more faithfully, and be directed towards Our Lord and His salvation, by following the great examples and faith as shown by Mary herself, who has always guided us all towards her Son, Our Lord and Saviour. Let us all as Christians strive to be ever always worthy of God, and fill our whole lives with prayer and love for both God and for our fellow brothers and sisters all around us.

May the Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Fatima, our loving Mother and intercessor, continue to pray for us and to guide us patiently as she has always done all these while. May we continue to seek the Lord, by focusing our attention Him through gazing upon the loving face of our beloved Mother, who has shown us the path forward in life as disciples and followers of Our Lord. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.