SUNDAY MAY 13, 1917
The First Apparition
In 1916, Lucia de los Santos(10) and her cousins, Jacinta Marto (7) and Francisco Marto (9) were visited by the Angel of Peace. He emphasized who God was, and how much He loved them and wanted to be loved; the value of sacrifice and the vital lesson about the Eucharist. The last apparition (#3) the Angel appeared holding a chalice with a Host suspended in the air over it. Drops of blood fell from the Host into the chalice. He taught them reverential worship. He gave them their first Holy Communion
Pray! Pray a great deal! Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the most high!
(The Angel of Peace
World War I was in the midst in Europe and Pope Benedict XV had begged the Blessed Mother to intercede for the war's end. On Sunday May 13, 2017, in Fatima, Portugal, Mother Mary appeared to the three children.. They were normal children, raised by devout Catholic parents. They played, sang and played pranks on one another but they never missed Mass, daily rosary, the angelus and their evening prayers. Our beautiful Lady appeared to them six consecutive months on the thirteenth day. She emphasized prayer, sacrifices, daily rosary and not receiving the Holy Eucharist in a sacrilegious manner.
The youngest, Jacinta, told the neighbors what had happened. Lucia, the oldest, received the brunt of her mother's anger because she thought she was lying.
Lucia was reminded of Our Lady's words, "You are going to suffer a great deal. But the grace of God will be your comfort."
The three children were models of devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist. Francisco spent many hours before the tabernacle consoling Jesus in the Eucharist. Our Lady of Fatima warned about the consequences of abandoning God. The Five First Saturdays emphasize the power of Holy Communion when received in the state of grace. We are to receive the Bread of Angels, the Cup of Salvation, the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in a worthy and reverent manner.
During her appearances Mary continued with the message to reform our lives, do penance for sins and pray the rosary daily. There were a total of five prayers from the Fatima visits.
1) The Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.”
Mary told the children that people should add this prayer to the end of each decade of the Rosary.
2) The Pardon Prayer
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.”
This prayer was given to the children by the angel that visited them in 1916, the year before Mary appeared to them.
3) The Angel’s Prayer
“O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.”
This is another prayer given to them by the angel. There was a Eucharistic host and chalice suspended in the air, and the angel led them in kneeling before it and praying this prayer.
4) The Eucharistic Prayer
“Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.”
When Mary appeared to the children for the first time on May 13, 1917, she said, “You will have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.” According to Lucia, one of the children, a bright light shone all around them, and without thinking about it, they all started reciting this prayer.
5) The Sacrifice Prayer
“O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners [that I do this].”
Mary gave the children this prayer, as well as the Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer, on June 13th, 1917. The prayer is meant to be recited when you are offering up suffering to God.
Shall we pray!!
