The Message of Fátima for Today


Image result for jacinta marto wiki commons
L-R Lucia Dos Santos, Francisco Marto, Jacinta Marto
Attributed to Joshua Benoliel [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A few years ago, the story of little Colton Burpo and his visit to heaven was told in the book and movie, “Heaven is For Real.” Many people were inspired by this astonishing story, but also wondered whether to believe it.
In Catholic history and tradition, many such stories have been reported over the centuries. The Church teaches that “public revelation” (scripture) ended with Jesus Christ and the death of the last Apostle. However, recognizing that God can speak to His people in many ways, major reports of visions and private messages are studied by the church. Messages found to be fully in keeping with scripture and church teachings are approved, and Catholics are free (but not required) to believe in the visions.
One of the most well-known of these heavenly visits occurred in Fátima, Portugal a century ago to three shepherd children, Jacinta, age 6, her brother Francisco, age 8, and their cousin Lucia, age 9.
It began in 1916, when the children, while watching over their family’s flocks in the mountains near Fátima, encountered a beautiful angel who said he was the guardian of Portugal. He taught the children this prayer, “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon for all those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.” The angel visited twice more, teaching them to adore Jesus in the Eucharist and to pray for sinners.
On May 13th, 1917 the children saw a “lady dressed in white, shining brighter than the sun.” She was Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She appeared each month, giving the children a series of messages for the world over the next six months. This was during the First World War, and she warned that if people did not repent, another terrible war would follow, and the “errors of Russia” (communism) would spread to many nations, causing much suffering. The children saw visions of both heaven and hell. She asked them to pray for the conversion of sinners, to save souls from hell.
Soon, people learned of the visions and the children suffered much opposition from those who did not believe them. Crowds began to gather for the apparitions. On October 13th, 1917, a crowd of 70,000 people was present when Jesus, Mary, and Joseph appeared to the children, blessing the people. Suddenly, the sun began to twirl, emitting a rainbow of colors, and then seeming to fall towards the earth. The miracle of the sun was seen for miles around, and reported in secular newspapers by eyewitnesses. But the world did not listen. Tragically, the predicted wars and suffering came upon the world in the century that followed.
Jacinta and Francisco died from influenza soon after that final vision. Lucia became a Carmelite nun and lived until 2005. Recently, Pope Francis announced that on the 100th anniversary of the first apparition, May 13th, 2017, Jacinta and Francisco will become the youngest saints (other than the martyrs) ever to be canonized.
The messages of Fátima still inspire prayer and conversion a century later, all because God sent His Mother to warn us of danger, point us to Him, and tell us how much He loves us. Colton Burpo, now 18 years old, said much the same about his vision: “I hope that my story continues to point people to Jesus. He really, really loves you.” That’s what messages from heaven should always teach us. And remember, anytime the Lord is concerned enough about the world to send His Mother to admonish us to pray, we should listen to her!
Originally published in the Tri-City Herald Spiritual Life Column, May 6, 2017
 

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