Where Will You Be on May 13th?

My kitchen shrine to Our Lady and Jacinta.

I wish I could say that I will be in Fatima for the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady to the three little shepherd children: Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and Lucia dos Santos. That's where Pope Francis will be and during his visit he will canonize Jacinta and Francisco. Praised be to God!

 I love those little ones who present such a heroic example of piety and sacrifice. The penances they embraced to "save poor sinners from hell" would challenge the strongest adults. They even suffered a spiritual martyrdom when they kept Mary's secret to the point of believing they would be boiled in oil for their faithfulness. 

If you haven't read their story, make it a priority. As the Scripture says, "A little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)

Since I can't be in Fatima I intend to be at a Marian shrine. In fact, I intend to do that on all the anniversaries of the apparitions. Mary appeared to the children six times -- on the 13th of the month from May through October when she displayed a miracle of the sun for the world. Only once did she come to the children later than the 13th-- on August 19th-- because the little ones were prevented from going to the Cova de Iria, the site of the apparitions, by the mayor of Ourem who kidnapped them and held them in jail for two days. Our Lady appeared a few days after their release.

From the outdoor walk at Our Lady of Lourdes
Shrine in Emmitsburg, MD

I urge you to join me in celebrating these six anniversaries by visiting a shrine or Church dedicated to Our Lady and praying the rosary there. How many options there are from which to choose! Here are several major Marian shrines:

The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Emmitsburg, MD

Our Lady of the Assumption, Baltimore, MD

Our Lady of Lourdes, Litchfield, CT

Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL

Our Lady of Guadalupe, LaCrosse, WI

Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA

Basilica Shrine to Our Lady of Fatima, Lewiston, NY

Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Philadelphia, PA

National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Green Bay, WI

Our Lady of the Assumption, Baltimore, MD

Check your own state to find a shrine dedicated to Mary. Or simply attend a diocesan church dedicated to Our Lady. She will be pleased to have you join her and pray her rosary wherever you can, even at home if you aren't well enough to get out. Time and space do not limit our wonderful Mother. As soon as you make the sign of the cross invoking the Blessed Trinity, she is there with you along with her legions of angels. A number of these shrines are having special devotions and processions in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.

Our Lady, Queen of the Universal Church, pray for us. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Our Lady of America, pray for us.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.