Pope Francis has canonised two Fatima visionaries, Francisco Marto
and Jacinta Marto when he visited the Fatima Shrine on 12 and 13 May 2017, the Feast of Our
Lady of Fatima and the 100th anniversary of the date when the two children along
with their cousin Lucia who had experienced the first apparition of the Blessed
Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal.
Our Lady appeared to these three poor children several times between 13
May 1917 and 13 October 1917. The two children died in childhood. Jacinta
died on February, 1920, at age 9 while her brother Francisco died on 4 April
1919, at age 10. During Saint John Paul II’s pastoral visit to Portugal,
he beatified them in Fatima on 13 May 2000, 83rd anniversary of the
first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. He was teaching us that even young
children can become saints.
Their cousin
Lucia was the only one to reach adult life. She joined a convent in Coimbra,
Portugal. Later she became a Discalced Carmelite Nun. She was born 1907 and
died in 2005 at the age of 98. Sr Lucia’s beatification is now being examined
for the canonisation process in Vatican since 13 February 2017.
Pope Francis was the
fourth pope to visit the Fatima Shrine after Blessed Paul VI, Saint John Paul
II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. During his pontificate since 2013, Pope
Francis has canonised 36 saints and these two children will be the 37th
and 38th saints in his list of canonisations. These
two peasant brother and sister would
become the youngest non-martyr children in the history of the Church. Their canonisation would help us “to give credibility to the
apparitions and the message of Fatima.” The appearance of Our Lady was asking
these three children to pray the rosary,
make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and an increase in love for God.
As
we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mary’s first appearance in
Fatima and on this month of Rosary, we too are encouraged continuously to pray
the rosary, make conversion and increase the love of Christ. When we pray the
rosary with our BEC members, families and individuals we make the change in the
lives of our loved ones, parishioners and friends. I hope by praying the rosary
will help you to live our faith more stronger and make us happy. Whenever we
leave home for work, office, school or travelling to overseas just remember to
carry your rosary along as your companion of your journey. We should be great
devotees to Our Lady and listen attentively to Her and ask for peace in the
world.
Parents and
grandparents, you need to encourage your children and grandchildren to pray the
Rosary and to help them grow in their friendship with Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
Grandparents of Jesus, Sts Joachim and Anne are honoured by the Church because
they were instruments for Mary’s YES to the Angel Gabriel to become the Mother
of Jesus in Her younger age. Whereas Mary and Jospeh nurtured Jesus to grow in
wisdom and age during his childhood. So, parents and grandparents do commit
yourselves to teach your children and grandchildren to always say something to
Jesus before going to school, work, anywhere and even before sleeping. Do tell
them too that going for Mass and catechism classes during the weekend are also
important in order to strengthen their faith. Be their teachers of wisdom of
God and courage that they may be pass on to future generations to grow in the
fear of God. Mary, Mother of Hope, Pray for Us!
Being a mother is a great privilege, but also a great
challenge.
Today, I just want to say how wonderful you are. You have shown me your
love right from my birth. You are the one who nurtured me, prayed over me,
worried about me, guided me and supported me every moment of my life. Thank you
mom for everything that you have done and keep doing for me. Just want to thank
you for all the love and care that you give me.
