Friday, May 12, heralded the start of our Devotions to commemorate the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. At 5:30 p.m. parishioners gathered before the Fatima grotto at St Anthony’s Church. The Church of the Nativity charismatic prayer group led the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. There was a very slight drizzle but this seemed more like a blessing than rain.

Mass began at 6 p.m. in the church. The chief celebrant was Fr Michael Hayden, OP. The parish priest Fr Leo Donovan, OP concelebrated. In his homily Fr Hayden gave a graphic description of the background to these apparitions. World War I was causing havoc in Europe and Pope Benedict XV spoke with the warring nations but his pleas for peace were in vain.

In May 1917 the Pope decided to intercede to Our Lady. One week after his intercession, Our Lady appeared to three very young children from an obscure hamlet in Portugal—an area that seemed to grow only stones.

Procession after Mass. Photo by Kenneth Chang On

The children had gone to the Cova da Iria, where there was a small patch of grass and they could pasture their sheep. Father reminisced about seeing a film of Fatima at the age of eight—the age of one of the visionaries. He was intrigued and made it a point to see the film whenever it was shown.

For most important events, there is a preparation. In 1916, one year before the Fatima apparitions, the Angel of Peace appeared to the children and requested them to pray and do reparation. They were surprised to see on a bright sunny day what appeared to be a flash of lightning.

The Angel visited them three times. On the third visit, the Angel prostrated before a Host dripping blood into a chalice. He requested that they join him in prayer. It was amazing that the children did not reveal these angelic visits.

On May 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared and there was a similar flash of light. Lucia, the oldest, aged 10, asked the Lady from where she came. She said heaven.

She asked them to pray and make sacrifices. Lucia asked whether they would go to heaven. She replied in the affirmative but Francisco would have to pray many rosaries.

The third, and youngest visionary, was called Jacinta. The children considered what sacrifices they could make. They decided to give their lunch to the sheep and say 15 instead of five decades of the Rosary. Our Lady had informed them that they would have much to suffer. Of course, the war ended shortly after. 

Father commented on the gospel of the day and its relevance to our celebration. In the day’s gospel Jesus said, “Trust in Him”. Mary’s great desire is that we should trust in her Son.

All her apparitions encourage us to appreciate that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Her only reason for appearing is to lead us to Him. We should also note her attachment to the simple, humble, and childlike.

The homily was very penetrating, and it was delivered with a dynamism that kept the congregation captive. Thank you very much Fr Hayden. After Mass there was a procession and a blessing by Fr Donovan.