Sometimes He sends the sun dancing, but usually He just keeps the earth spinning each day.
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. As uncertainty and unrest continues to rumble around us in the world, as we hear “of wars and rumors of wars” (Mt 24:6), we can get caught up in predictions, chasing miracles, signs, and warnings.
At times we get distracted by the “flashiness” of Fatima–the miracles, the visions, the secrets–and forget the message.
“Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”
“Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, for she alone can be of any avail.”
“Make sacrifices for sinners, and say often, especially while making a sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, this is for love of thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’”
“You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. It is to save them that God wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If you do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace.”
It seems to me that…. she wanted us to pray and do penance. Not out of fear, but out of love.
Did the children have a vision of hell? Yes. But at times you hear people telling the story as if to prove a point: “See, I told you people are in hell! All those people out there are going to be punished! Them! They’re going to hell!” Instead of to say, “God desires all the be saved. Everyone–even those people you disagree with. Dare we hope? Let’s pray and sacrifice so they can all go to heaven!”
After all, the prayer she asked to pray at the end of each decade of the rosary pleads that God lead all souls to heaven. Not just our souls. All souls–especially those most in need of His mercy.
I remember several years ago, when we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the final apparition of Mary at Fatima. Many people waited for this anniversary, questioning if something big was going to happen.
But guess what? That’s not how the Lord usually works. Sometimes He knocks people off horses, but usually He works through the quiet conversion of hearts. Sometimes He sends the sun dancing, but usually He just keeps the earth spinning each day. At times He saves Popes from assassin’s bullets, and sometimes He intervenes in human history in dramatic ways, but mostly He works through us. Quietly. Lovingly. Faithfully.
We hear of wars and rumors of wars. We feel helpless as we look at the evil in the world. Why? We aren’t helpless. Our Lady told us what to do, and it was quite simple.
“Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, to obtain the peace of the world and the end of the war, because only she can obtain it.”
Consecrate yourself to Her Immaculate Heart, and all will be well for you.
Stop being anxious. And stop looking for drama. The Blessed Mother didn’t come to Fatima so God would perform some grand miracle. She came to Fatima to call us to prayer. We only need the grand and dramatic because our faith is so weak. Rather than look for signs and wait for miracles, thank God for all the little miracles He’s worked every day in our lives. Quietly. Lovingly. Faithfully.
Interested in going on pilgrimage to Fatima? I’m leading a Marian pilgrimage from Fatima to Lourdes and plenty of beautiful shrines in between! I’d love for you to join us! Information here.
Image credit: “Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima” via Shutterstock
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