It's Mary's Month: How Will You Honor Her?

Our Lady of Sorrows by Titian

During this month of May, let us console Our Mother who mourns over sinful mankind and prays for our conversion. At Fatima she told the little children that many go to hell because they have no one to pray for them. Let us spend this month praying for poor sinners like the little shepherdess, St. Jacinta.

Sunday Meditation: The Desire for Human Respect is a Soul Killer

St. Jacinta would scold those who used God's name in vain.
May we imitate her love and zeal for Jesus Christ and His Mother.

Whenever I think of the danger of human respect I remember my own weakness. In his last job before retirement my husband, a civilian, was working for the Marine Corps Systems Command as the assistant commander. We often went to celebrations and functions like the Marine Corps Ball, retirement ceremonies, etc. I remember one particular event where I failed the Lord out of human respect.

Learn About Fatima and Our Lady's Call to Conversion!

Why is Fatima so crucial? After all, Catholics are not required to believe in apparitions; they aren't part of the deposit of the faith that all of us affirm in the Creed.

Nevertheless, Fatima represents an urgent message for the world confirmed by a massive miracle of the sun seen by over 70,000 people. Some weren't even at the site, but saw the dancing sun from miles away. Not only that, but the miracle was prophesied months before it happened and many who came to scoff, including atheists, were converted on the spot.

Other apparitions are associated with miracles. Many confirmed miraculous healings occur at Lourdes, for example. But the miracle of the sun at Fatima is unique in the history of the Church. It was publicly announced beforehand as a message so that people might believe.The miracle set Our Lady's call there to penance in reparation for sin in bold relief. Listening to and obeying her message is crucial if we really desire peace in our world.