Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. We remember the heroic witness of the three young visionaries, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, who were visited by Our Lady and given the task to bear witness to her presence, even in the face of opposition. At Fatima, Our Lady called for the conversion of our hearts, repentance from our sins and dedication to prayer, especially the Rosary. This recipe for spiritual renewal remains desperately needed in our own age and in our own personal lives.
Fatima will always have a special place in my heart because it was one of the last places my mother chose to visit before her lung cancer prevented her from traveling. In fact, my sister and I accompanied my mother to Fatima in October 2010, three months before my mom died in January 2011. It was a beautiful, peaceful and spiritually uplifting visit for all of us, despite the sadness that we felt knowing that my mother’s earthly life was coming to an end.
It is in the stillness of our hearts that we can discover true order for our lives, recognize what is important and find the voice of God who always seeks to offer us consolation and peace. Fatima has always been a place of silence and reflection for me, as it was true for my mother. In its quiet and hushed corners, the power of Our Lady’s intercession can be powerfully felt, leading us onto simple paths to profound personal renewal.
I have not been back to Fatima since my mother’s death. My heart tells me that it is time to visit again.
The previous reflection originally appeared on Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow the Bishop for daily reflections and weekly videos! Do not miss Bishop Frank’s video: What Does it Mean to Stand with Christ?