Our Lady of Fatima calls us to conversion and penance

The Fatima Visionaries

The apparitions of Our Lady to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta near Fatima in Portugal began on this date in 1917.  It was also on this date, in 1981, that an assassin shot Blessed Pope John Paul II.  John Paul credited Our Lady of Fatima with saving his life, and in one of several acts of gratitude he renewed the consecration of the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary which Pope Pius XII had originally made in 1942.  This consecration had been requested by Our Lady in the "Second Secret" of Fatima.

Courtesy of  St. Peter's List, here are some of the more important portions of Our Lady of Fatima's message:

“More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.”

“Never speak ill of anyone. Never complain or murmur. Be very patient, for patience leads us to Heaven.”

“Continue to pray the Rosary every day.”

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

The original sketch for the statue of Blessed Pope John Paul II

Believe it or not, this was the original idea.  Somehow, it turned into this:

More here.

Not my cup of tea

                                                

                                                            Suggestive of, what, exactly?


New statue of Blessed Pope John Paul II in Rome.  "[I]t's embarassing us in front of the tourists," says an elderly woman quoted in Republica.  You can give your opinion at Fr Z.