Our Lady of Fatima

Blessed Feast of Our Lady of Fatima!

For converts, the stories of special visits by the Blessed Virgin Mary seem almost too incredible to believe.

If we try, however, even our skepticism regarding apparitions falls away. It seems to make sense that Mary would choose to come to children, like the three in the story of Fatima. Poor children. Innocent. Shepherds of the field. Humble and unknown except in their own families.

Very much like Mary had been when the angel Gabriel came to her.

It is in this story that one of the simplest of prayers is given to humanity. Before Our Lady appeared to the children, an angel visits them, calling himself the Guardian Angel of Portugal. And he tells them to offer up everything in reparation for sin and for the conversion of souls.

Then he teaches them some new prayers. The simplest one of all goes like this:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You. I ask pardon of You for all those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You."

What an easy prayer to integrate into daily living. On this Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, maybe you could commit this to memory and incorporate it into your daily prayer life.