Our Lady of Fatima
The month of October is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It was on October 13 that the Blessed Mother appeared for the sixth time to the three children of Fatima: Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco.
At those Fatima visits, the Blessed Mother told the three children to “Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war; for she alone can save it.” The year of these visits was 1917 and the war at that time was World War I.
As home schoolers concerned about our children’s future, we surely must include prayers for peace in the world and the end of the wars around the world. We probably all have at least one person we know—an acquaintance, friend, relative, spouse or child—who is serving in the military. Many of the ones we know may be actively engaged in combat, risking their lives to keep peace in an area, bring peace in an area, or prevent terror or a worse war in an area or world-wide. Thus, we should pray for their protection from harm, for wisdom for those who lead our armed forces, for conversions of leaders who cause war unjustly, for a change in social conditions that cause war, and for civilian victims of war. There is no better way to pray for our armed forces and for peace than to pray the Rosary of our Lady.
We should remember that it is ultimately sinners who cause war by their sins. Thus, it is no surprise that prayer for the conversion of sinners is also a key part of the Fatima message. We should pray for the conversion of sinners in tandem with our prayers for peace and for the end of wars.
In the final apparition in Fatima, the Blessed Mother asked that a chapel be built to honor Our Lady of the Rosary. She repeated her request that people everywhere say the Rosary every day.
Some years ago, a Catholic archbishop in Russia explained that in spite of the persecutions and the tearing down of the churches under Communism, the Russian families continued to say the Rosary in their homes. Though the Russian children were forced to hide their holy rosaries, they continued to pray as best they could.
In this final apparition, St. Joseph also appeared holding the Child Jesus, which certainly emphasized the importance of fathers teaching their children in spiritual matters. Our Lord also appeared dressed in a red robe, as the Divine Redeemer.
In a later private apparition, the Blessed Mother spelled out her requests for reparation on the first Saturdays of each month. She told Sister Lucia that this devotion consisted of the following: going to confession (within eight days before or after), receiving Holy Communion, reciting five decades of the Rosary, and meditating for 15 minutes on additional mysteries of the Rosary, all on five consecutive First Saturdays of each month. All of these spiritual practices are to be done in reparation for sins and ingratitude against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It would seem this devotion would add particular efficacy to our daily recitation of the Rosary for peace and for the conversion of sinners.
Holy Mother of God, let us home schooling moms and dads not be forgetful of our responsibility for daily prayer, especially the powerful prayers of the most holy Rosary which you have so graciously asked us to say every day. Holy Mother, we know that the proper Catholic education of our children must include the daily Rosary. Help us to be generous and brave in leading our children in the daily prayers, especially in the Rosary. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- MKC
