O Immaculata, what were your thoughts when for the first time you placed N.º 95 the Divine Infant on his bed of straw? What feelings inundated your Heart while you wrapped him A Word in swaddling clothes, held him to your Heart, and nursed him at your breast? from Pope You knew very well who that Child was, because the prophets had spoken of him, and you understood them better Francis than all the Pharisees and the learned Scripture scholars. The Holy Spirit had given to you infinitely more enlightenment “In a few days than to all other souls together. time our hearts Besides, how many of the mysteries of Jesus will be filled were revealed only and exclusively to your immaculate soul with the joy of the Lord’s Birth. By by the Divine Spirit that lived and operated in you! Already, at the moment of the Annunciation, the Most Holy leaving a spare place at the dinner Trinity, through the ministry of an angel, had presented to table on the Vigil of Christmas, you, in all its clarity, its plan of redemption, and had awaited we remember the poor, the hungry, your response. At that moment you knew perfectly to Whom Dear Friends of Fatima, people who are alone, the homeless, your consent was being given and whose Mother you were to as we recall our blessings of this past the marginalized, the war weary, be! And there He was before you, in His newborn fragility. year, your goodness and kindness to and especially children! Jesus, the What feelings of humility, of love, and of gratitude must have our Community must be acknowl- Son of God made Man is present in filled your Heart ... edged as among the greatest of these. all of them. Let us open our hearts while you marvelled at the humility, the love, and the With our heartfelt gratitude we have gratitude that God incarnate showed to you. arranged a Solemn Christmas Novena in order that they may share in our I beg you to fill my heart too with your humility, joy. Praised be Jesus Christ.” your love, and your gratitude! of Masses and prayers to be offered for all of your needs and intentions In the families of the Little A Christmas Prayer by St. Maximillian Kolbe, OFM from December 16 - 24. Shepherds of Fatima it was the With joyful hearts we wish you every custom for the youngest child to blessing and grace at this Christmas carry a basket of bread and meats and the gift of an increase of Faith, Hope and Love throughout the to the neighbours who were in CHRISTMAS 2014 Dir. & Prop.: M. PRIORESS need. In this way the children Printed in: MONASTERY PIUS XII New Year 2015! TIPOGRAFIA DE FÁTIMA, LDA. Rua do Rosário, 1 - 2495-444 Fátima - Portugal learned the charity of Christ by www.fatima-dominicans.com Mother Prioress and Sisters sharing with the poor. Solemn Profession of Order of Preachers - 8th Centenary Sr. Grace Marie of the Holy Trinity, OP Theme for the would be their Since our last Friends of Fatima year 2015: “If mark, their sign was already being printed at the you remain in my of authenticity… time of Sr. Grace Marie’s Solemn word, you will their identity as Profession of Vows we wish to in- truly be my disciples, and you will Christ’s disciples. St. Dominic, poor clude here an account of that lovely day last December. On the beauti- know the truth, and the truth will set man of Christ sent his first brethren ful solemnity of the Immaculate you free” (John 8:31-32); to preach, to win souls for Christ with Conception in the presence of our “For freedom Christ set us free” (Gal no special equipment. He sent them Community, Sister’s dear mother 5:1): Dominic: Government, Spiritu- only with the treasure of PRAYER. In and all her family from Philippines ality and Freedom a recent homily Pope Francis spoke and numerous friends from nearby, of Christ’s prayer: “For Jesus, Pe- Sister pronounced her Solemn Our spiritual journey continues to- ter’s sin was not important: he was Vows placing the seal until death upon mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and her offering to the Lord. Holy Mass was you shall know the Lord” (Hosea 2: 21-22). wards the 8th centenary, which will looking at his heart. To be able to find concelebrated by our Provincial Fr. Pedro “Spousal love is a wonderful image of be held from 7 November 2015 - feast this heart and heal it, he prayed. Je- Fernandes, OP, several of our Dominican the ardent and boundless love of God for of All the Saints of the Dominican sus who prays and Jesus who heals. Fathers, our Confessors and Fr. Joaquin mankind. In this love, God takes all the Order until 21 January 2017. The It is something he does for each of Ferrer, SVD brother of Sr. Grace Marie. initiative: He has loved his bride ‘with general theme “Sent to preach the us. We cannot understand the Church The music was accompanied by Sister’s an everlasting love’ (Jer. 31:3), loved Gospel” reminds us that the grace without Jesus who prays and heals. family with both organ and the singing of her ‘first’ (1Jn.4:19). In exchange, he of preaching opens hearts to receive May the Holy Spirit help us under- beautiful hymns from the Philippines. asks His bride to respond with steadfast faith and undivided love. As a bride, she the WORD, to convert, to be trans- stand that this Church has its strength In remembrance of this most special day belongs exclusively to Christ. She has formed. In the heart of the preacher in Jesus’ prayer that can heal us Sister has written a reflection from which given her YES to Him for the ‘one thing a fire burns…a fire enkindled by a all.” The preacher we quote: “I will espouse you to me for- necessary which will not be taken from deep prayer life. Deep contemplative seeks to ‘find the ever; I will espouse you…in love and in her’( Lk. 10:42). Her veil reminds her of prayer is the fragrant wood that stokes heart of one who her total consecration and the fire in the heart of the preacher. At is wounded by of her nuptial union with the beginning of the second millen- sin and to heal it’ the Lord. From spousal love, she grows towards nium the Lord said to St. Francis of with the saving spiritual maternity where Assisi: “Rebuild My Church.” How Word of God. she longs to obtain an was this to be done? By poverty as Imitating the abundance of grace for in Bethlehem. At the same moment Master, the everyone whom she loves, in history Jesus said to St. Dominic: preacher for the entire Church and “Go and preach My Word” How who prays for those people who are was this to be done but by restoring is the unknown to her but whom God has destined to be the itinerant apostolic life…in pov- preacher Holy Father St. Dominic, her spiritual children. She erty…carrying no extra tunic …this who heals. pray for us! 2 11 understands well that her whole “vocation the world knows that through her fidelity Fatima Apparitions - 1st Centenary is fully and totally apostolic: restricted in to her Beloved Spouse, no distance can Theme for the year 2015: took to heart this plea of Our no way by limitations of place, or circum- prevent her from dwelling in the Church’s Sanctified in Christ Lady and became the Church’s stance, or of times, it extends everywhere mission fields through her prayer and the August Apparition: Pray, pray youngest ‘missionaries’ of the and at all times to all that touches, in any gift of herself. She longs to be a ‘daughter very much and make sacrifices Gospel message. Bl. Jacinta, manner whatever the honor of her spouse of the Church’, striving to win souls for for sinners. just 6 years old would exclaim: and the salvation of souls” (Pope Pius God more effectively than she could in XII). Although her contact with the outside the world. Such a response to God’s call “If I could only put into the world remains limited, she who is physi- presupposes an unwavering faith in God, We are now only two full years from hearts of all, the fire that is cally distant from her wounded brothers in who cannot be outdone in generosity.” the first centenary of the Apparitions burning within my own heart, and that of Our Lady in Fatima. The Church, makes me love the Hearts of Jesus and most notably in the person of the Holy Mary so very much!” For little Jacinta Father, has on numerous occasions pro- no prayer or sacrifice was too much claimed publicly that these Apparitions for the eternal salvation of souls. Bl. Year of Consecrated Life and their Message are unprecedented Francisco, 9 years old, desired only 30 November 2014 - 2 February 2016 in the history of the Church. They are to console the Heart of God Who was so sad because of so many sins. In “…all those called by God to the Founder of each Order or a clear, urgent and prophetic call to the practice of the evangelical Institute. Fifty years later the return to God! If Our Lady said a cen- daily life there are many opportunities counsels and who, faithfully re- Church once again calls on all tury ago: “Do not offend God anymore to imitate Bl.