Our Lady's Garden
Spend some time with her and she will wrap you in her mantle
Getting my shoes on, I'm late!
July 22, 2017
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.
On May 13, I blogged about the 100th Anniversary on Fatima that we have time to learn about the Fatima message from Our Lady. I said that we could walk with the shepherd children as they learned the message of Our Lady. We can but we are late, or I am late, really, really, late - not 100 years late, but 101 years late.
It is daunting to admit being that late, especially because I am just getting used to being 50. Still, I am late.
How is it that the Guardian Angel of Portugal appeared in 1916 to the Lucia in order to prepare the way for Our Lady's visit a year later. He gave Lucia specific instructions and asked her participation and implored her to pray and the world has ignored his instructions:
"Do not be afraid, I am the angel of peace. Pray with me -
‘My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You.
I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore,
do not hope, and do not love You.'"
The intention for those who do not believe has never been more important. This month, Pope Francis' prayer intention is for the return to faith for Lapsed Christians.
"That our brothers and sisters who have strayed from the faith, through our prayer and witness to the Gospel, may rediscover the merciful closeness of the Lord and the beauty of the Christian life."
Our Lady asks for our fervent prayer for those who do not believe in God, souls who will be lost. Do we care? Do we? Do we care for the souls of individuals who live life without any thought of God, who live without knowing God's love or His sacrifice for us? Souls unaware of God's Divine Mercy.
Since May 13th, I have tried with much effort to learn the angel's prayer and pray it often. I can't tell you the difficulty in memorizing these 31 simple words. It was only through praying deeply about the message that I now know them. I humbly offer my personal prayer of a third line and a Divine Mercy message
I pray ~
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You.
I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore,
do not hope, and do not love You.
I ardently pray that these souls come to believe in you, seek to adore you,
place all their hope in You, and love you for all eternity.
Jesus, I trust in You,
Jesus, I trust in You,
Jesus, I trust in you.
Heaven has sent us a message that the conversion of sinners is in our hands. The eternity of God's children rely on our prayer.
Will you join me in prayer and will we fight for our brothers and sisters?
I am.
I have my shoes on. I am ready to go!
Walking with the Shepherd Children
The Fatima Anniversary
May 13, 2017
Today is the anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima.
It is a big day and I hope you celebrate it with millions of people around the world but it is just the beginning of the anniversaries of Fatima. Today, we celebrate the very first apparition to the children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia.
One hundred years ago, Mary chose the most unlikely of heroes to change the world; three shepherd children who were the least likely to be believed. Who would believe that three young children would be given the message that could change history and save the world from the suffering of the 20th Century? No one, not even their own parents.
Today, we celebrate the beginning. Will you walk with them? The first apparition, on May 13, 1917, was not of Mary but as is the norm, an angel appears to the children first. After the children had said their daily rosary, they beheld an angel who said, “Do not be afraid, I am the angel of peace. Pray with me.” They knelt and he shared the first gift of the Fatima message.
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You.
I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”
I know this prayer, but I had forgotten it. Today is the beginning of understanding but only if we will humble ourselves and follow these three children. Will you pray this important first prayer? You do not need to understand the entire message today, you need only to believe. Will you believe these shepherd children who would bear the weight of the Fatima Message and face the world who would discount, discourage, and intimate them?
The Church canonizes the youngest Francisco, Jacinta today. Will you celebrate? Will you believe?
The next important decision is - Will you stop what you are doing today to listen to the message of the angel?
Tomorrow’s question is will you take the message to your heart and pray? Will you pray like the world depends on it or do you have other things to do? Today is a celebration of humility, taught by children.
There are more gifts to coming and there will be time to unwrap them all.
Enjoy your family rosary. It should be a big part of the celebration.
May God bless you this joyous day!