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| From our permanent exhibit, A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II. |
The Church celebrates the feast of
Our Lady of Fatima on May 13. Saint John Paul II had a strong devotion to Our
Lady of Fatima, and he was convinced that her intercession saved his life after the assassination attempt in 1981.
In a homily for the consecration Mass of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima
in Poland, St. John Paul II said:
The message of Fatima, which Mary
gave to the world through three poor children, consists in an exhortation to
conversion, prayer, especially the rosary, and reparation for one's own sins
and for those of all mankind. This message flows from the Gospel, from the
words which Christ spoke at the very beginning of his public ministry:
"Repent, and believe in the Gospel!" (Mk 1:15). It aims at man's
interior transformation, at the defeat of sin within him and the strengthening
of goodness, and at the attainment of holiness. This message is addressed in
particular to the people of our century, a century which has been marked by
war, hatred, the violation of fundamental human rights, the immense suffering
of individuals and nations, and finally by the struggle against God, carried
even to the denial of his existence. The message of Fatima is an outpouring of
the love of the Heart of the Mother, who is always open to her child, never
loses sight of him, thinks of him always, even when he leaves the straight path
and becomes a "prodigal son" (cf. Lk 15:11-32).
Our Lady of Fatima, please
intercede for us during this month of May, that we may repent and bring the Gospel to the world.
This piece was originally posted on May 13, 2012.
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