MARY, OUR MOTHER

Today the Church celebrates the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, where Our Lady appeared to the three children, Lucia, Francisco and Lucia for six consecutive months beginning on May 13, 1917.

Our Lady of Fatima
Optional Memorial
May 13th

The message of Fatima includes a call to conversion of heart, repentance from sin and a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, shown especially by praying the Holy Rosary and offering sacrifices in our daily lives. One of the prayers that Our Lady taught the children was:

"O my Jesus, this is for the love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary," to be prayed with each sacrifice that we offer. The seers added later "and for the Holy Father, the Pope . . ." because they saw the Pope suffering so much!

MASS PRAYERS

Collect:
From the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Reading: Isaiah 61:9-11
Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks Himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:27-28
As Jesus said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that You sucked!" But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

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THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 26, 2000 (Link to Vatican Website)