May 24th: Portugal - Our Lady of Fatima

Feast Day: May 13th

Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mountain region of central Portugal near Cova da Iria. It was the scene of six apparitions of Our Lady, from May 13 to October 13, 1917, to three peasant children, Lucia Santos, Jacinta Marto, and her brother Francisco. During the apparitions Mary told the children to have processions in honor of her Immaculate Conception and to tell the faithful to do penance and pray the Rosary because otherwise the world would be chastised for its sins. During the October apparition seventy thousand people witnessed a spectacular solar phenomenon. In 1930 the bishops of Portugal declared the apparitions to be authentic, and in 1942 Pope Pius XII, in response to Mary's request, consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1967 Pope Paul VI personally visited and worshiped at the shrine on the fiftieth anniversary of the apparitions. (Fr. John A. Hardon)

At Holy Spirit Interactive, read the story of Fatima and an explanation of the Pilgrim Virgin statues. The website of Theotokos Books includes an extensive Fatima section with many links, including a timetable of events, and all the words spoken by Our Lady.

There are plenty of books on Fatima for children, including Our Lady Came to Fatima by Ruth Fox Hume (Vision Books series), The Children of Fatima by Mary Fabyan Windeatt, and a colouring book, Our Lady of Fatima, also by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. A free stained-glass window style coloring page is available here (from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Front Royal, VA).

At Lewiston, NY, there is a Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, and the Upper Church of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Washington has a bronze statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

A couple of bloggers have recently posted craft ideas: at Sweetness and Light, Meredith's daughter made this pretty tea box shrine for Our Lady of Fatima; Alice of Cottage Blessings made Marian lanterns with her homeschool group.

If food is your thing, learn how to make Portugese carne vinho de alhos (meat in white wine and garlic sauce) at Catholic Cuisine.

Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima

O Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima
and reveal a glorious message.
We implore you,
inspire in our hearts a fervent love
for the recitation of the Rosary.
By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption
that are recalled therein
may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask,
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Redeemer.