Visit the National Blue Army Shrine, a designated pilgrimage site for the Extraordinary Marian Jubilee.
By Blue Army Staff Having your home enthroned to the Sacred Heart can open the door to peace and preservation of marriage and family life.
I began writing this article on Memorial Day, a day that evokes patriotism and gratitude. At least I hope that it does. Not to honor the many who have given their lives for our nation, even if you don’t agree with actions that brought us into a particular conflict, is an insult to those of commitment who questioned little and gave all. The “greatest generation”, as Tom Brokow referred to those who fought in the Second World War, had a simpler vision. My parent’s generation, who grew up during the Great Depression, entered this second attempt at a “war to end all wars” not with great debate but with a sense of service. They knew that many would not return, but they understood the value of duty as they faithfully went forth, imbued with patriotism and the belief that we would triumph against the godless “isms” in the world.
The Blessed Mother at Fatima appeared dressed all in white and as if she was “made of light,” according to the shepherd children. The light that radiated from her opened their eyes to the vast and unexplainable nature of God and manifested His presence in the depth of their hearts. What a phenomenal gift for these young seers, who could never put into words what they experienced, because, as St. Paul states, “Who can comprehend …the love of God that surpasses all knowledge?”
Wars and rumors of war. Politics as a blood sport. The deterioration of society and the dismantlement of a culture.
The 1971 song Ball of Confusion by the Temptations summarizes it best. “Round and around and around we go, where the world’s headed nobody knows!” We do know, and we have the power to change the world and bring it back into proper orbit. We must first realize that we have taken it astray.
Soon after St. Maria Faustina Kowalska was led by an Angel to the chasms of hell, she wrote about what she saw in her Diary, so that she might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. Like St. Jacinta Marto, she was so overwhelmed and horrified at how terribly souls suffer there, she dedicated herself to praying fervently for the conversion of sinners and incessantly pleading for God’s mercy on them.
The readings during Passiontide are accusatory of those who held positions of authority in the time of Christ. Over the years there have been allegations that these were attacks against the Jewish people. More accurately these statements are aimed at those who held positions of religious authority in that time. The Gospel’s words are not anti-anyone nor is it about stigmatizing any group. Instead, it interrogates our human nature and how we respond when we fear that we will lose our special position. It calls out the denial of truth and the reality. Even though we follow the ultimate Truth, we must also be vigilant about assuming that only we are the chosen ones in this day. Christ said that He would be with us until the end of time, specifically in the Eucharist, but the question to ask is this: will we remain with Him? Assuming that we are superior because we have been given the gift of Faith is taking a detour from the path Christ sent the disciples on, the same path that as baptized Catholics all of us are commanded to follow. Each of the apostles faced persecution and violence for his beliefs. Indeed, most of the first popes died as martyrs, happy to give their lives for the Faith.
As we enter Holy Week this year, we may find ourselves beset by overwhelming fear and anxiety. Our nation is polarized, war rages between nations, new technological advances offer both new promise and unprecedented dangers, and even the Church faces division and sinfulness within her members.
The revelation by St. Jacinta Marto, that war is a punishment for sin, is a vivid reminder that our own conversion and response to Mary’s requests at Fatima can help alter world events. Today, as yet another major conflict has erupted in the Middle East, it’s good to examine again the promises of Our Lady, especially with regard to the First Saturday devotion.
St. Jacinta Marto endured a prolonged and painful illness that led to her death on the night of Feb. 20, 1920, in the Estefania Hospital in Lisbon. Only a night nurse, Aurora Gomes, was present in the ward that evening, but when questioned, she could not recall any details of the young seer’s death, nor anything about the child herself. As Our Lady foretold, Jacinta died alone, far from her relatives and friends, due to complications arising from the Spanish Flu pandemic, which swept around the world between Jan. 1918 and Dec. 1920.
On February 14th we celebrated Valentines Day. The greeting card industry has enshrined this as the day when we emphasize romantic affection. It is beautiful to especially acknowledge spouses and those with whom we have a romantic connection. Love is in the air as they say, but true love can be better found when we explore and remember the saint after whom this day is named. St. Valentine was martyred for the Faith on February 14th, offering an act of pure love, not romantic love. I mean no disrespect to the industry that thrives on the promotion of these secular days. My father owned a gift and hobby shop when I was a child, and Hallmark cards were a big seller for him. Living in a committed marriage, however, brings the selfless love of sacrificial care together with the romantic in a lasting relationship. I find that my love for my wife has grown over the years as long-term care and common experiences define our relationship.
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Explore Fatima’s holy sites with monthly meditations from Fr. Luke Mary, CFR.