2016 Centenary of the Rev. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. Fatima Angel Apparitions

This year my series of articles for Soul maga- to fulfill the mission we ourselves have received in zine will focus on the apparitions of the Angel who the light of the Fatima message. appeared in the year 1916 at Fatima, Portugal, to three children, Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Mar- First Angel Apparition to and Jacinta Marto; 2016 is the centennial year. Spring of 1916 Many people are familiar with the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima in 1917, because these appa- Let us start off with the question: “Why did God ritions have become the focal point for Our La- send an angel to the three little shepherd chil- dy’s promised intervention to obtain for us world dren?” I think we can safely say that this is some- peace and the salvation of souls. However, many thing we can observe in the Sacred Scriptures as who know of Our Lady’s apparitions know little, a standard element of God’s in times of and in some cases even nothing, about the appari- great importance. Angels were used by God in His tions of the Angel who called himself the “Angel of dealing with His people frequently as messengers Peace” and the “Angel of Portugal.” These appari- or guides. For example, God said: “Behold, I am go- tions played a very important part in preparing the ing to send an angel before you to guard you along children for the role God gave them in His plan the way and to bring you into the place which I for our salvation. We can learn a great deal from have prepared” [Exodus 23:20]. At other times them since they would help us also better prepare God sent angels to prepare His people either for Archives Army CNS Blue 4 Soul Fall 2015

1 Soul Signature.indd 6 10/28/2015 12:33:13 PM the coming of a great person or to announce the spots. It had rained earlier in the day, but the sky coming of an event that would manifest His pow- had cleared. After lunch, the children prayed the er or mercy. An example of announcing a great together, since they came from devout fam- person was the angel who announced the birth ilies who encouraged this practice. However, they of Samson, one of the judges of Israel who helped prayed the rosary as quickly as possible using an deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the abbreviated form of the Our Father and Hail Mary Philistines [cf Judges 13:2-5]. The classic example so they could get to playing their games as soon of an angel who brought a message from Heaven as possible. That day, however, things would be dif- was the Archangel Gabriel who announced to the ferent. As soon as they started to play a game, Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive Je- a strong wind shook the treetops. Lucia later de- sus, the Son of God [Lk 1:26-38]. The message that scribed what they saw in her memoirs: “A young would be entrusted to the children of Fatima was man, about 14 or 15 years old, whiter than snow, also one of profound importance because it dealt transparent as crystal when the sun shines through with God’s plan for world peace, the conversion it, and of great beauty.” of sinners, and the role the three young children would play in all of this. Therefore, God prepared them so that they might respond freely and gener- ously to what He would ask of them.

The Angel of Peace Comes

The three visionary children were the youngest The children were astonished! The Angel spoke members of the dos Santos and Marto families. As to them: “Do not be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace. such, they were given charge of the family flock of Pray with me.” This beautiful greeting reminds us sheep. We do not know the exact day in 1916 that of the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting at the Annunci- the Angel first appeared to the children, but when ation when he told Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, Lucia later wrote about the apparitions she said it for you have found favor with God” [Lk 1:30]. The took place some time in the spring of 1916. The Angel then invited the children to pray with him. young shepherds had brought their family flocks to He taught them a special , usually referred to CNS Blue Army Archives Army CNS Blue a place called Cabeco, one of their favorite grazing as the “Pardon Prayer.” Then the Angel knelt down Soul Fall 2015 5

1 Soul Signature.indd 7 10/28/2015 12:33:41 PM and bowed until his forehead touched the ground. The children were so moved that they knelt with My God, I believe, I their foreheads to the ground as well. This was a adore, I hope and I profound example of reverence to God as they love You! I beg pardon prayed. However, it is not something that every- one should try to imitate. Such profound bowing for those who do not is, then, not a sign of fear before God, but of rever- believe, do not adore, ent recognition of the infinite majesty and holiness do not hope, and do of God. He is the One Who loves us so greatly! Certainly the Angel would not want to disturb the not love You! childlike trust the children had in God and in His love and mercy!

The Pardon Prayer

This is the beautiful “Pardon Prayer” the Angel of Peace taught to the children and which he made them repeat three times:

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You!

Let us reflect on this beautiful prayer in order to gain great insight from its meaning. The prayer first outlines four basic actions we must all do in order to have a proper relationship with God, namely, keep faith by believing, worship by adoring, trust by hoping, and love by doing His Will. In the second part of this prayer, we ask God to pardon those the measure of the Christian life. Again, to who are neglecting these same duties toward Him. quote St. Paul: “Without faith it is impossible to This prayer introduced the children to a powerful please [God], for anyone who approaches God mission Our Lady would ask of them by praying must believe that He exists and that He rewards for the conversion of sinners. As she told the chil- those who seek Him” [Hebrews 11:6]. Today we dren in her August 1917 apparition: “Pray, pray very hear of many in our rapidly secularizing, atheis- much, and make sacrifices for sinners. For many tic society who are abandoning all belief in God. souls go to hell because there are none to sacrifice Even among our Catholic population we hear themselves and to pray for them.” of many who call themselves Catholics but no longer believe in major teachings of the Church, Looking More Closely such as the Real Presence of in the Holy At This Prayer , the need for Confession and the ex- istence of Hell. This is the result of the increase “I believe…for those who do not believe…” of sin in our society, such as abortion, same-sex marriages and violence. Jesus had warned: “Sin St. Paul tells us that faith is the initial source will be rampant everywhere, and the love of of eternal life: “The just person lives by faith” many will grow cold” [Matthew 24:12]. This is [cf Romans 1:17]. The Council of Trent taught why it is so important to pray in reparation for that faith is the beginning, the foundation and the sins of disbelief today and for the conversion CNS Blue Army Archives Army CNS Blue 6 Soul Summer 2015

1 Soul Signature.indd 8 10/28/2015 12:34:58 PM of the hearts of many men and women back to “…I love…for those who do not love…” God by renewed faith! If we do not love the God “…I adore…for those who do not adore…” Who made our hearts for Himself, our love becomes disfigured by seeking to love creatures that can never sat- isfy that infinite heart-hun- ger. As St. Augustine put it so well: “God, You have made our hearts for Yourself and they are ever restless until they rest in You!”

The Angel Departs

After the children repeated the “Pardon If people no longer believe in the true God, they Prayer” three times, the Angel rose and di- will ultimately create idols of their own which rected them: “Pray in this way! The Hearts they will adore, such as money, power, pleasure or of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice whatever else they choose to worship. Constant of your supplication.” This first apparition of intercessory prayer is needed to move them to the Angel had an extraordinary impact on the praise God once again in their lives. children. As the Angel left, the three children were enveloped in a supernatural atmosphere “…I hope…for those who do not hope…” so intense that for hours they were scarcely aware of their own existence.

They remained in this same state for some time, continually repeating the prayer of the Angel. They did not even speak to one another. This spiritual effect only gradually began to dis- appear. Despite this wonderful beginning, how- ever, the children would need a reminder to pray the “Pardon Prayer” more ardently. This would come with the Angel’s second visit!

Hope is the virtue by which we trust in God’s promises to give us eternal life and all the graces and assistance we need to reach that life. Because many have turned away from God, they have lost all hope of eternal life. They no longer consider Heaven as the destination of eternal happiness God has promised them, and so live in a state of endless despair. We need to pray for hope to be restored as well as trust in God’s infinite mercy for those who approach Him sincerely. CNS Blue Army Archives Army CNS Blue Soul Fall 2015 7

1 Soul Signature.indd 9 10/28/2015 12:35:23 PM Rev. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. 2016 Centenary of the Fatima Angel Apparitions

Second Angel Apparition

With the passing of months, the spring of 1916 family home. It was called Aneiro’s Well. As usual, turned into summer. The children did not keep during the siesta time, the children were playing accurate dates of the Angel apparitions, but Lu- their games. All of a sudden the Angel appeared cia remembers it had to be in the summer. The again. He had a gentle rebuke for them: “What reason was that during the hot summer months are you doing?” These words must have made a the children would take the sheep out to graze deep impression on the children because after early in the morning and bring them back to their this second visit of the Angel they became more little village before noon, to the safety of a small faithful in responding to his requests. The Angel barn that provided shade for the sheep from the said: blazing afternoon sun. During the summer sies- ta hours the children remained in the shade of What are you doing? Pray, pray very much. The trees at a well, located in the back yard of Lucia’s most holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs 4 Soul Winter 2016

1 Soul Signature.indd 6 1/29/2016 1:40:42 PM of mercy on you. Offer and sacrifices constantly to the Most High.

Once again the Angel directed the children to pray very much. He had already requested that of the children in his first apparition, especially when he taught them the Pardon Prayer. Now he adds a new element to his request, that of sacrifice to As children we were God. So Lucia in responding to this request of the often taught to make Angel focuses in on sacrifice. She asks: “How are sacrifices, especially we to make sacrifices?” The Angel responds: during Lent. Maybe we gave up our favorite Make of everything you can a sac- rifice and offer it to God as an act dessert like ice cream of reparation for the sins by which or our favorite candy. He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You sire. So the Angel responded to Lucia’s question will thus draw down peace upon by saying: “Make everything you can a sacrifice.” your country. I am its Guardian An- As children we were often taught to make sac- gel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, rifices, especially during Lent. Maybe we gave up accept and bear with submission our favorite dessert like ice cream or our favorite the suffering which the Lord will candy. At other times we gave up watching our fa- send you. vorite TV programs. In other words, our sacrifice cost us something, either a pleasure we would There is an immense amount of spiritual wisdom like or something which has special meaning and found in these words of the Angel of Peace. First delight for us. These sacrifices, which can be very of all we notice that he reveals further his identity, simple in themselves, become rather significant namely as the Angel of Portugal, its Guardian Angel. when joined with the sacrifice of Christ for the We know that God appoints Guardian Angels for salvation of the world. individual people as well as for cities and coun- tries and probably for special groupings of people. St. Therese, The Little Flower, became known So the Angel has come to request many forms of for her Little Way of spiritual childhood. She al- prayer that will lead to peace beginning with peace ways felt she could not do the penances and sac- in the children’s own country. rifices she read about in the lives of great saints. However, she became an expert at making many Actually, the Angel requested four different forms sacrifices that no one detected. She said holiness of piety that the children could practice in order was not measured by doing great things, but by to obtain peace, not only for their own country doing the ordinary things with great love. In the but also for the world. Let us look at these four book “A Pathway Under the Gaze of Mary,” the acts of piety. biography of Sister Maria Lucia, we read this de- scription of how the children began to respond Sacrifice – to the request for sacrifice:

The first request of the Angel was for sacrifice, From this second apparition, the three shepherds and Lucia responded by asking “How are we to found new ways on many occasions to make sacri- make sacrifices?” The meaning of sacrifice here fices of everything that gave them pleasure and of- would be giving something up that is significant or fer them up for peace and for the cross they would a surrendering of something we hold dear or de- soon receive. There was among them a natural co- CNS Blue Army Archives Wikimedia Archives Army CNS Blue Soul Winter 2016 5

1 Soul Signature.indd 7 1/29/2016 1:50:34 PM operation, and they eagerly embraced a sacrifice had already been introduced to the mission of in- as something sweet, but always with the utmost tercession by the Angel when he taught them the discretion so no one realized anything. [pg 47] Pardon Prayer. That prayer asks God specifically to grant pardon to those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Him. Our Lady Reparation – said at the end of her August 1917 apparition, “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them.”

When a person offers some good deed or act of self-deni- al as reparation to God, he is saying “God, I love you” ...

The Angel taught the children to offer their sacri- fices to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended. Reparation is an act of love to God to atone for or make up for sins either by oneself or by others, or for failures and refusals to love God. They spent a lot of time As I wrote in my book “Fatima for Today,” ‘When a praying there, especially in person offers some good deed or act of self-denial the first few weeks after the as reparation to God, he is saying “God, I love you” Angel’s second apparition. in order to make up for an offense against Him by which someone else said “God, I do not love you.”’ The children responded ardently to this request [pg. 28] When Jesus died on the cross, for example, for prayer. Sometimes they prayed in the woods He offered His very life as a reparation or sacrifice while they were grazing the sheep. At other to make up for our sins. By our sacrifices, we are times they found a little cave which they turned being asked to join with Christ in making repara- into a hermitage. They spent a lot of time praying tion for all the sins of the world. there, especially in the first few weeks after the Angel’s second apparition. We, too, must respond Intercession for by prayer as well as sacrifice and the spirit of rep- aration, so that many souls will be saved. Jesus and the conversion of Mary want us to share with them in the work of sinners – the salvation of souls. As Saint Francis of Assisi put it: “Nothing should take precedence to the The Angel told the children that their sacrifices work of the salvation of souls for which Christ and acts of reparation would have the effect of be- shed His Precious Blood.” seeching God for the conversion of sinners. They

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1 Soul Signature.indd 8 1/29/2016 1:50:52 PM Bearing Sufferings Making Peace Humbly – Through Sacrifice –

The great spiri- tual writer, St. John of the Cross, tells us that there are two aspects to pu- rification from sin. The first aspect he calls “active puri- fication.” This in- cludes our prayers, our sacrifices, and the acts of repa- ration which we choose to The reparation the children St. John of the Cross, tells us make to God. made and the message they The second that there are two aspects spread to others helped aspect he calls bring peace in their time... to purification from sin. “passive puri- fication.” This The Angel of Portugal told the children, “You will aspect is more difficult and often involves greater thus draw down peace upon your country.” In one suffering. It includes the trials, temptations, perse- of her private to little Jacinta, Our Lady cutions, misunderstandings, and other forms of suf- told her that war is a punishment for sin. A ter- fering that God allows to come to us. They are of- rible world war was going on when Our Lady ap- ten things we would not have chosen for ourselves peared to the children at Fatima. World War I was to do. Therefore, they have a more intense spiritual called “the war to end all wars.” The reparation power for they unite us more closely to the will the children made and the message they spread of God and embracing the cross in our own lives. to others helped bring peace in their time, but we need to bring peace in our volatile times. The plan This is why the Angel said to the children, “Above that the Angel directed the children to do is the all, accept and bear with submission the suffering one we should also follow, as well as the messages which the Lord will send you.” This is an aspect Our Lady would later give regarding devotion to of the children’s spirituality that amazes us. They her Immaculate Heart. would quickly grow to be more loving toward God because they were doing His will more intense- The Angel’s message was preparing the children ly, and more loving toward others because they for their mission from Jesus and Mary. If we fol- were willing to embrace the crosses God sent to low all that the Angel of Peace taught the children, win the graces of salvation for many. This is not an we too will be prepared to promote peace in the easy grace to attain in the spiritual life. In fact, most world through the Fatima message of hope. The people would not even dare to ask to suffer. Most children would need one more visit from the Angel people would simply struggle and bear the crosses to complete their preparation for the apparitions when God would decide to send them. The chil- of Our Lady in 1917. That message would come in dren were heroic in their spirit of sacrifice and at the fall of 1916. such a young age. CNS Blue Army Archives Wikimedia Archives Army CNS Blue Soul Winter 2016 7

1 Soul Signature.indd 9 1/29/2016 1:53:57 PM Rev. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. 2016 Centenary of the Fatima Angel Apparitions

Third Angel Apparition

One of the saints who foretold the great reli- battering rams that attempted to destroy the ship gious events of the 20th century was Saint John of the . In this desperate moment Bosco, the founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco. of storm and battle, all of a sudden two columns He was very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, emerged from the sea. At the top of the higher col- especially under her title Mary Help of Christians. umn was the Blessed Sacrament. At the top of the He was known for his prophetic dreams in which lower column was the Blessed Mother. When Saint God revealed things that would happen in the fu- John Bosco, who lived in the 19th century, explained ture. Probably the most famous dream foretold his dream to others he commented: “I foresee that the great struggle that the Catholic Church would some of the greatest trials in the Catholic Church’s endure in the 20th century. In this dream he saw history await her in the next century (20th centu- the Catholic Church represented as a great wood- ry which recently ended). God is giving only two en ship caught in a tremendous storm at sea with means to defend His Church. The first is devotion wind and waves pounding against it, threatening to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The second to destroy it. Surrounding the ship of the church is devotion to Our Blessed Lady. The six apparitions were smaller boats that represented the faithful of Our Lady at Fatima focus in a general way on who were loyal to the Holy Father. devotion to her Immaculate Heart. But it was in the third angel apparition that emphasis was given In addition, opposing the ship of the Church was to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This Eu- a large enemy fleet whose ships had canons and charistic element of the Fatima message in a way

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1 Soul Signature.indd 6 4/27/2016 8:50:15 PM completes it in terms of the prophetic Saint After giving Holy Communion to the children, John Bosco saw for our times. Let us look closely at the angel once again bowed down to the ground this very important third angel apparition. profoundly repeating three times the prayer he had taught them. “Most Holy , Father, Son Fall of 1916 and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly …” Even the children were overwhelmed by a super- As we pointed out earlier in our articles on the natural atmosphere so that they, angel apparitions, the children did not remember too, prostrated themselves and the exact dates the angel had appeared. Howev- repeated the prayer three er, this apparition occurred at the Cabeco where times. Lucia commented the angel had appeared to them for the first time that this experience in the spring of 1916. The children were praying, was quite intense, with their heads to the ground, the Pardon Prayer so much so that the that the angel had taught them. When they looked souls of the chil- up they saw the angel again. He was holding in his dren were filled left hand a chalice, and over it was a Eucharistic with peace and Host. Drops of Jesus’ Precious Blood were falling happiness. After from the Host into the chalice. Then, leaving the praying, the an- chalice and Host suspended in the air, the angel gel left the chil- knelt down beside the children. They all bowed dren. The mission profoundly before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Angel of with their foreheads to the ground. It was then Peace to prepare that the angel taught the children another prayer the children for the called the Angel’s Prayer. apparitions of Our Lady was now over. Oh most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I of- Learning From fer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, the Third Angel Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in rep- Apparition aration for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He is offended. By This relatively brief apparition the infinite merits of the of can teach us much to help us in our Jesus and the , I own Eucharistic devotion, whether it beg the conversion of poor sinners. be to help us assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass more fervently, or to thank Je- After this time of the an- sus after receiving Him in Holy Communion gel rose and took the Host and chalice into his with greater personal love, or adoring Him hands and he offered the Eucharist to the chil- as our God, our Savior, and our Friend when dren as Holy Communion. He gave the consecrat- we spend time with Him during Eucharistic ed Host to Lucia who had already received her Adoration. What the angel taught the children First Holy Communion. He then allowed Fran- should inspire us greatly. cisco and Jacinta to drink directly from the chal- ice and this was their First Holy Communion. As When the Angel taught the children the Par- he gave them Holy Communion, the angel spoke don Prayer in his first apparition, the children these powerful words: “Take and drink the Body learned to make intercession and plead for and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by God’s pardon for those who do not ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes believe, do not adore, do not and console your God.” hope, and do not love Him. CNS Blue Army Archives Wikimedia Archives Army CNS Blue Soul Spring 2016 5

1 Soul Signature.indd 7 4/27/2016 8:50:51 PM Now in this Angel Prayer of the Third Appari- The prayer ends with a state- tion, the children learn to make reparation for ment of hope, namely that offenses against the Lord in the Most Blessed Sac- through the infinite merits of rament. Reparation is important because by it we the Sacred Heart of Jesus and tell the Lord we love Him and that we want to the abundant merits of the make up for the offenses that He endures in His Immaculate Heart of Eucharistic Presence. Mary we plead for the conver- sion of those who commit these sins. We can also learn from the words the an- gel spoke to the children when The angel specified three such offenses. First, he gave them Jesus there were outrages which occur when people des- in Holy Communion. He ecrate the Blessed Sacrament by acts of dishonor, told them that the Eucharistic Body and Blood of disgrace, and ill treatment towards Jesus’ presence the Lord had been horribly outraged by ungrateful in the Eucharist. An example of such an outrage men. We have seen some examples of these out- would be profaning Jesus’ presence in a Black Mass. rages. He goes on to encourage them to make rep- aration for these sins which is necessary so that these sinners may receive God’s pardon and be brought back to the state of Sanctifying Grace. This would be absolutely necessary for their salvation. Finally he tells the children: “Console your God.” These words should inspire us.

We want to make reparation to God who has shown us an infinite love in giving us Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Since these sins of Next the angel mentioned sacrileges which oc- outrage, sacrilege, and indifference have offend- cur when we receive the Lord in the state of mor- ed God’s love, we should want to love Him even tal sin which makes us unworthy to receive Him more. God looks for those who will console Him into our hearts. for the offenses of those who hurt Him. The bible tells us that at the time of Sodom and Gomorra, if there were ten holy people, those cities would have been spared from destruction. That is how important reparation is in our times. As the Bless- ed Mother told the children at the end of her ap- parition in October 13, 1917: “Do not offend the Lord our God anymore, because He is already so much offended.” Reparation atones for these of- fenses. Our love for Our Eucharistic Lord should move us to want to make reparation for all He Indifference occurs when people show disre- suffers so that He could remain with us by His spect in Church by neglect of the Lord’s presence Eucharistic Presence and we could receive Him in through our own fault. Holy Communion. 6 Soul Spring 2016

1 Soul Signature.indd 8 4/27/2016 8:51:17 PM Rev. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. 2016 Centenary of the Fatima Angel Apparitions

Learning from the Angel’s Messages

It is a characteristic of God’s interacting with the truths of salvation that He taught. Finally we His people that He often would send individuals know that before the Second Coming of Christ to prepare His people for a powerful message. For Elijah the prophet will return and his mission will example, Saint John the Baptist called himself “a be to prepare the people to receive Christ at His voice of one crying out in the desert: prepare the Second Coming. way of the Lord” [Lk 3:4]. His father, Zechariah, said at the time of the Baptist’s birth in the Canti- The Angel of Peace had to prepare the children cle he spoke, filled with the Holy Spirit “And you, for their mission. He told them in his First Appari- child, will be called prophet of the most high, for tion, in the spring of 1916 after teaching them the you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, Pardon Prayer, that the hearts of Jesus and Mary to give His people knowledge of salvation through were attentive to the voices of their supplication. the forgiveness of their sins” [Lk 1:76-77]. Even In the summer apparition he encouraged them to the Apostles went before Our Lord into every pray: “Pray very much! The hearts of Jesus and town and village that Jesus was going to visit. They Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers prepared the people for His coming so that they and sacrifices constantly to the Most High.” After would be ready to receive His word and believe in giving them Holy Communion, he said to the chil- 4 Soul Summer 2016

1 Soul Signature.indd 6 7/28/2016 12:41:11 PM dren: “Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus lives have drifted far from God and particularly Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make who are now immersed in lives of great sin and reparation for their crimes and console your God.” selfishness, especially in purity through fornication, The children learned much and responded by living masturbation, and pornography. Remember that Je- the Angel’s instructions with great devotion. These sus told the Apostles, when they could not drive out an unclean spirit (probably a demon of lust), that particular demon could only be driven out by prayer and fasting [Mk 9:29]. We should also remember in prayer those who are trying to live a good life apparitions prepared them for the message of Our but fall occasionally into sins against charity such as Lady. They learned well and responded to Our La- anger, impatience and gossip. There are many peo- dy’s request with great enthusiasm and generosity. ple in need of prayer. The best approach is to leave it up to God to choose who He wants to receive Do I Make Intercession the benefit of your prayers. The list of sins is end- for Those In Spiritual Need? less, so the list of those in need would also be end- less. Our prayers will no longer be needed when One of the most important requests that Our the final sinner has turned back to God. Lady would make during her apparitions would be Do You Offer Sacrifice? to use prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners. This is something she asked for frequently Sacrifice seems to have gone out of the practice and with utmost urgency. She said many souls were of many Catholics today. In past years the Church lost from God because there was no one to offer gave us Lent when we had an obligatory fast. The prayers of intercession on their behalf. Our prayers Church also gave us abstinence [not eating meat] are also needed as intercession for those who are on Fridays. These obligations are now minimal for not praying for themselves. This is causing the faith the average Catholic, at least in terms of obliga- of many of them to wither and die leaving them far tions. For example, fasting is required on only two from God and often in the state of serious sin. Just days of the year, namely, Ash Wednesday and Good as the Angel requested prayers so these peo- ple would not be lost, we must take the Angel’s message into our own hearts and respond as the young visionaries did. This is key to God’s plan for the salvation of souls throughout the world. As we have entered into the Centenary of the Angel (2016) and approach the Centena- ry of Our Lady’s apparitions (2017) do we believe Friday. Abstinence is required on Ash Wednesday and have a deep conviction that we are called to a and all the Fridays of Lent. On the other Fridays personal mission of prayerful intercession? There of the year, the individual Catholic can substitute are probably many many souls who will be depen- another act of penance. How many remember to dent on our prayers, so let us pray with earnest- do that? Archbishop Sheen used to say that “luke- ness in imitation of Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. warmness is love without sacrifice,” because it is love that requires very little generosity on our What Should We Pray For? part. In his Second Apparition to the children, the Angel told Lucia to make many sacrifices. When No doubt we should pray for people who have she asked him what that meant, he answered, lost their faith to be renewed by the Holy Spir- “Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it. This is the first and fundamental act leading to it to God in reparation for the sins by which He is conversion. We should also pray for those whose offended and in supplication for the conversion of

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1 Soul Signature.indd 7 7/28/2016 12:41:40 PM to the Angel’s request. For example, they gave away to poor children the nice lunches their parents had made them and were satisfied to eat bitter fruit instead. They also endured thirst in a land where the heat of summer can be very intense.

What Sacrifices Can We Make?

To prepare ourselves to enter more deeply into the message of Our Lady for our own salvation and sanctification and that of the world, little sacri- fices of any kind will bear much fruit. We can think of depriving ourselves of a dessert we may like or an extra cup of coffee that we might not really need. What might be a really great sacrifice is to give up our favorite TV program and use the time to read a good spiritual book or spend time in prayer or Adoration. Remember it is a basic law in the spiritual life, according to St. Paul, that the flesh and the spirit are at odds. If we give the flesh too much in terms of enjoyments and personal satisfaction, the spirit often grows more slothful; but when we deny ourselves the enjoyments of the flesh, we often experience a new vitality of the responded “Yes, we are willing.” Our Lady then spirit [cf Gal 5:17]. This will help us grow in virtue told them: “Then you are going to have much to by overcoming the temptations that the flesh often suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.” brings by being freer to listen to the promptings of The children did undergo many forms of suffering, the Holy Spirit. This is a perfect way to prepare for particularly from people who ridiculed them or the centenary of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima. considered that they had made up the whole story about an apparition of a “beautiful Lady from Heav- en.” Probably hardest of all was the fact that Lucia’s How Do You Respond own mother never believed that the apparitions To Suffering? her daughter spoke of were true. That was a most difficult cross for Lucia. She was even somewhat In his Second Apparition, the Angel of Portugal ignored by her brothers and sisters. encouraged the children “Above all, accept and bear with submission, the suffering which the Lord How Do We Handle Suffering? will send you.” Everyone has suffering of one kind or another in life. This is what Jesus taught in the It has been said that suffering can make a person Gospel to be His disciple, namely, that we must either better or bitter. It makes us better when deny ourselves (these are our sacrifices), take up we see it as coming from God and are willing to our crosses each day (these are our sufferings, accept it from Him. Many lessons in life come even if just carrying out our daily duties), and fol- through suffering especially the building of char- low Me (these are our efforts to imitate Christ acter and the strength of enduring with persever- each day) [cf Mt 16:24]. Our Lady would later ask ance. On the other hand, we know that suffering the children: “Are you willing to offer yourselves can make people bitter. This happens when they to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send resent them and refuse to accept them. Many you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which people become angry at God when crosses come He is offended? …” The children enthusiastically their way. They resent it because these sufferings 6 Soul Summer 2016

1 Soul Signature.indd 8 7/28/2016 12:41:55 PM to make reparation that the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady will come as she promised.

Are We Making Reparation? take away their ability to live a happy life according to their own hopes and desires. Yet it is only when In the Old Testament when the people of we embrace the cross in our hearts that we find Nineveh were warned by the prophet Jonah that the peace that comes in doing God’s will, even God would destroy their great city for their many in adversity. In our Christian faith the cross is no sins, the people at the order of the King put on the longer a tragedy; God turned it into a source of penitential garb of sackcloth and ashes and prayed blessings and eternal happiness. The Angel would for forgiveness and they were spared. Sodom and encourage us to accept our sufferings with pa- Gomorrah would have been spared if they could tience and trust. Abundant fruits will follow! only have found ten just men who could make rep- aration for the sins of those cities. Do We Ever Think of Making Reparation? We do not know if God will send a chastisement upon the world – St. John Paul the Great thought Reparation is the offering of our prayers and there might be some chastisement for our sins, but sacrifices to atone for our sins and for the evil he also said we could mitigate it by prayer and pen- effects our wrongdoing has had in the world. Sin ance and reparation. This is why it is important for has offended God who is infinitely good and de- all of us to heed this message of Our Lady because serving of all our love. Reparation is the atone- she came to help us avert any chastisement and ment by prayer, or sacrifice, or works of mercy lead us all to Heaven. It is not too late to respond that make up for the wrongs we or others have because Our Lady told Lucia that when enough done. When Our Lady in her first Apparition people do as she has asked, the triumph of her Im- asked the children if they would bear the suf- maculate Heart would come and this would bring ferings that God would send them, she said that peace and conversion into the world. Let us heed these sufferings would be “an act of reparation the message of the Angel so we can fully respond for the sins by which He is offended, and of sup- to the message of Our Lady. plication for the conversion of sinners.” It is so important that we atone to God for the wrongs by which He is offended and intercede for those who have offended Him, especially those who are neglecting to do this themselves. God is of- fended constantly in our world today. I believe it is by the prayers of in- tercession and reparation of those who love Him that we obtain God’s mercy and the hand of His chastisement is held back. We all need CNS Blue Army Archives Wikimedia Archives Army CNS Blue Soul Summer 2016 7

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