■ PILGRIMS FROM 100TH YEAR OF FATIMA APPARITION RECALL EXPERIENCES
The year 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the series of apparitions of Our Lady to three young visionaries in Fatima, Portugal. The Blessed Mother appeared once each month from May 13 to Oct. 13, 1917. The three children described various prophecies and “secrets” given by Our Lady, including instructions on praying the Holy Rosary. “The feeling once you get to see the sanctuary of our Lady is absolutely beautiful! An experience I shall treasure for the rest of my life,” said Rita Melinda C. Dela Torre, a Marian devotee.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three young visionaries—Jacinta, 7, Francisco, 9, and Lucia, 10—in Fatima, Portugal, where the Blessed Mother appeared once each month from May 13 until Oct. 13, 1917.
The three children described various prophecies and “secrets” given by Our Lady, including instructions on praying the Holy Rosary. They fulfilled their duties to their state with the greatest fidelity, living for prayer and sacrifice, which they offered in a spirit of reparation to obtain peace and the conversion of sinners.
Up to this day, a century after the Marian apparitions in Fatima were first reported, their messages still draw a powerful devotion among the faithful across the globe. Last Oct. 5 in Fatima, pilgrims from different parts of the world gathered to pray the Holy Rosary in different languages, followed by the candlelight procession in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima.
Rita Melinda C. Dela Torre, a Marian devotee who accompanied me in this two-week pilgrimage tour in Europe, described how this pilgrimage has been an important part of her life. “The feeling once you get to see the sanctuary of our Lady is absolutely beautiful! An experience I shall treasure for the rest of my life,” the mother of four said.
This spiritual experience of mine last Oct. 2 to 14 in Fatima, Portugal is one that I will treasure forever. This opportunity offered me a journey in faith with the guidance of the Blessed Mother, and helped me learn more about her life and its role in mine.
Witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime event connected me with the rest of the faithful around the world as we gathered as one for the peace and enlightenment of the world.
The pilgrimage opened my eyes to the Catholic faith and herit- age, brought me greater enlightenment, developed in me a deeper devotion to the Blessed Mother and made me simply admire the beautiful places of grace.
As a member of the youth, it is my calling to help my community experience and renew their faith in God. To enter as a pilgrim meant for me to walk towards a deeper conversion to Jesus and Mary, His Mother.
Overall, the spirit of a pilgrimage is a tremendous gift that God can give us as we go through this journey in life. Through this, we grow in our ability to find joy in the midst of silence as we sacrifice ourselves for the love of God. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us! ANNA RITA DELA TORRE / SACRED HEART SCHOOL HIJAS DE JESUS GRADE 12 STUDENT