By Deborah Favorite
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!
My first memories of the message of Fatima are from a young age of 7 or 8 years old. Easily impressed, I would occasionally hide and pray pretending to be like the three children. The prayer time would quickly be turned into daydreaming, however. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41) still holds true for me.
My mother and father at this time decided our family would practice the Five First Saturday devotion and pray a daily rosary. We did this together until I moved out.
A year after my departure from home, a number of parishioners from our parish were planning to make a pilgrimage to Fatima with the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue custodian, Guido del Rose, as guide. I had seen Guido many times throughout the years as the statue traveled to our diocese. I heard his many presentations about Fatima, the three children and the importance of the First Saturday devotion. How elated I was about this opportunity!
I prayed to Our Lady to let me go if it be God’s will. Through the generosity of others, the possibility became a reality. I was going to Fatima!
It was Nov. 11, 1990, the feast of St. Martin, the European Thanksgiving Day. I’ll never forget; Our Lady made sure of it! At about 10 p.m. we were socializing in the main lobby of Domus Pacis, the World Apostolate of Fatima/Blue Army hotel and retreat center. My traveling partner, who was 14, became disturbed by a situation I was not attuned to – I was her “guardian” for the pilgrimage. Suddenly, she fled to the Cova da Iria, in the dark, alone. I followed. Wearing heels and trying to catch up, I stumbled in the ditch. Complaining, I got up. When I arrived at the Cova my friend was there sobbing and praying. I was grateful she was safe; however, I was mad that I fell.
There were 15 people present quietly praying. I settled down and bowed my head and prayed that Our Lady would comfort my friend. In a moment, a man who was holding an infant and who was kneeling in front of Our Lady’s statue, rose and walked away. As he did, the statue turned her head and SMILED at the baby! We saw her smile! I saw her smile! Everyone present stood, saying, “She’s smiling at the baby!”
Guido del Rose happened to come to the Cova for a final nighttime prayer to Our dear Lady when we uproariously gave him the details of what had just occurred moments before. “What a grace!” he exclaimed.
Needless to say, my friend was comforted. She never told me what her prayer was about. Today, that 14-year-old is the Mother of a religious order.
A Saintly Witness
St. Therese the Little Flower also witnessed the maternal smile of Our dear Lady. In her youth, Therese had become seriously ill and bedridden. Her father had Masses offered in Paris at Our Lady of Victories for her healing. One day, during this novena of Masses, Therese suffered an acute onset of symptoms. Her sisters, Marie and Celine, fearing for Therese’s life, implored Our Lady for healing. At the same moment, Therese turned towards the image of Our Lady at her bedside. Instantly, Therese saw Our Lady SMILE at her! She was healed.
Lucia was also favored with a smile from Our Lady on the eve of her First Holy Communion at the age of 6. She wrote that she knelt before the statue of Mary at the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary in her church to ask her to keep her poor heart for God alone. “As I repeated this humble prayer over and over again, with my eyes fixed on the statue, I saw the Mother smile! I heard her ‘Yes!’ And I heard the sound of her voice – My daughter, the grace that is given to you today will remain forever alive in your heart, producing fruits of eternal life. …My heart was overflowing with joy I could scarcely utter a single word.”
The maternal smile of Our Lady of Fatima caused me untold joy. The incident increased my fervor in prayer and devotion. I desired to lead a life of sacrifice and penance as Our Lady asked and as St. Francisco, St. Jacinta and Bl. Lucia had done so heroically.
During this Jubilee Year of prayer, the Five First Saturdays would be a wonderful way to celebrate the Jubilee and prepare for the centenary of the request for the First Saturday devotion by Our Lady on Dec. 10, 1925. Let us help Our Lady SMILE by following her Motherly request.
Deborah Favorite is a Blue Army member and resides in the St. Paul/Minneapolis diocese.
