On this day in 1917, Our Lady made her sixth and final apparition at the Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal to three shepherd children: Lucia dos Santos, and her cousins Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Each apparition, beginning in May, occurred on the thirteenth day of the month. The final apparition is known for the “Miracle of the Sun,” when the thousands gathered for the apparition saw the sun moving in the sky. This came to be interpreted as a sign of the authenticity of the apparitions.
Mary’s first appearance in Fatima was in the month of May, which was fitting, since it is a month traditionally dedicated to Marian devotion. Her final appearance in the month of October, the month specifically devoted to the Rosary, was also quite fitting, especially when we consider the importance of the Rosary in the message of Fatima. According to testimonies from Lucia (who would go on to become a Carmelite nun known as Sister Lucia), Our Lady asked that the faithful pray the Rosary each day.
The Rosary, with its repetition of the Hail Mary while meditating on the life of Christ, is a simple yet efficacious way of pondering the mysteries of our salvation. By reflecting on Christ’s Incarnation and early ministry, as well as his Suffering, Death, and Resurrection, we are drawn deeper into the love of God, who came to save us in such a marvelous way. Through our meditation upon these mysteries with the Mother of God, we come to see her as the perfect model for Christian living. In her “yes,” Mary was receptive to the will of God in her life. During Christ’s public ministry, she directed his disciples to listen to him. By standing at the foot of the cross, Mary united all of her sufferings with those of Jesus. In accompanying the apostles after the Resurrection, she is the loving mother for all Christians. In the praying of the Rosary, Mary assists us, helping us to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. Sister Lucia recognized this, stating that the Rosary “will be a powerful means of helping us to preserve our faith, hope, and charity.”
The Rosary is also a powerful way in which we can turn to Mary with our needs and petitions. Sister Lucia said that “there is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” Mary is an intercessor for us, who brings our needs to the throne of her son, Jesus. She reigns at his side as Queen of Heaven, yet she cares for the people of God as Mother of the Church. By praying the Rosary each day, we unite our prayers with those of Mary. The beauty and simplicity of the Rosary allows anyone, from all walks of life, to appeal to the Mother with trust and confidence. In the words of Sister Lucia, “to pray the Rosary is something everybody can do, rich and poor, wise and ignorant, great and small.”
The praying of the Rosary has been a staple of Catholic life for centuries. The apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima brought this devotion into a new light. As the month of October continues, we are given a special time for renewing devotion to the Rosary. This will help us to grow in our love for Jesus. And we will find in Mary a mother who is ready to bring to him all of our cares.
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Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. (used with permission)
