Balasar and the Fatima Connection
Blessed Alexandrina da Costa (1904-1955) lived the Fatima Message in a heroic way. She is often referred to as the “fourth seer of Fatima,” embracing suffering and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners, much like the children of Fatima. She lived in the small village in northern Portugal named Balasar, a pilgrim stop during many pilgrimages to Fatima. The Message of Fatima is a call to prayer and penance for the salvation of souls and the conversion of Russia and the world. Alexandrina is one of those unusual persons who we call a “victim soul.” Everything she did and suffered, she did in imitation of Christ in order to be a victim, to cooperate with Christ in saving souls.
Saint Joseph from the Beginning
by Catherine Moran and Barb Ernster St. Joseph in Sacred Scripture is only briefly mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. He is a silent figure, never quoted, and yet he was the guardian, provider and protector of Jesus and Mary. Very little is known of him, yet people all over world turn to […]
Blue Army on the March
As we gathered under the towering presence of the Washington Monument, the excitement of the Pro-Life Marchers was palpable. For many in our country it seemed that the great pro-life victory achieved by the overturning of Roe vs Wade in 2022 marked the end of the Pro-Life movement on the national stage. But nothing could be further from the truth. Our drive to transform the culture of death into a truly pro-life generation and to end the victimization of the most innocent in our society has only increased, as political support and a great awareness of the sanctity of life continues to spread. Listening to the Vice President of the United States address the captivated crowd we could feel the winds of change stirring above our nation’s capital.
Our Lady’s Smile
The innumerable pilgrimages by my father’s cousin sparked a desire in me to travel as a pilgrim. Fatima would be my first encounter with an overseas pilgrimage. It was a dream come true!
My father’s cousin had been there seven times. Always, always he lavished us with gifts upon his return. On one occasion he brought each of my siblings a statuette of Our Lady of Fatima. We treasured them dearly!
The Hope of Advent
I held it together until the morning after our beloved family puppy had gone missing. Up until then, I was all action: printing “lost dog” flyers, helping my husband canvass neighborhoods where she’d last been seen, and consoling our three children who were understandably yearning to find her.
The New Totalitarianism Requires Our Urgent Response
One hundred and seven years ago today, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal, bringing a message of urgency, laced in sorrow and concern for the condition of the world of that time.
Fatima’s Spirit of Sacrifice
Sacrifice as a Duty of Love As Lent continues it can be easy to lose that original spark of devotion and energy awakened in us on Ash Wednesday. Our daily sacrifices and resolutions start out strong, but keeping them becomes increasingly tiresome, a chore rather than a loving gift. It is therefore extremely important that […]
Benedict XVI and Fátima’s Prophetic Mission
by Kevin J. Symonds, M.A. “We would be mistaken to think that the prophetic mission of Fatima is complete.” Pope Benedict XVI on May 13, 2010. Pope Benedict was celebrating Mass in Fátima on May 13, 2010, when he made the above remark.[1] It was a little confusing at the time, and even Archbishop Georg […]
