It's that time of the year again - Auntie Patty's annual America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally! Since last year, her family has hosted their rally in the Day Chapel at St. Anthony of Padua Church, rather than at their Kailua home. The customary luncheon now follows in the Makai Room and, all of us who participate, look forward to this event - all of it - each year.
For those not familiar with the Fatima apparitions and/or this nationwide prayer movement, the America Needs Fatima organization recruits "Rally Captains" to organize public Rosary Rallies throughout the country. The rallies are intended to collectively pray for the good of America and are scheduled for Saturdays on, or before, October 13th, which is the anniversary of Our Lady’s 6th apparition in Fatima. There, in that quaint Portuguese village, Mary appeared in 1917 carrying a Rosary on her wrist; uttered the words, "Recite the rosary every day to obtain the peace for the world and the end of the war (World War I)."; identified herself as the "Lady of the Rosary". It’s very clear - the Blessed Virgin was stressing the importance and the power of the Rosary in these apparitions.
The wooden statue of Our Lady in our
Day Chapel, displayed front and center
throughout October.
So why the Rosary? During a brief presentation I shared with the people present, I explained my simple take on it – the Rosary leads us closer to Jesus because it's CHRIST-CENTERED. Just think about it - of the 20 Mysteries we reflect on, Mary only figures prominently, alone, in four of them: the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Assumption, and the Coronation. So, really, this prayer is a long meditation on the life
of Jesus, her son.
Through the Rosary, Jesus shares his life with us – all the ups and downs of it; the best and the absolute worst times... and if we pray it regularly enough, it starts to seem like we're watching a Biblical "TV series" in our heads… and this is what Jesus wants – for us to get to know him better by knowing the major details (the Mysteries) of his life. The deeper we dive into each Mystery the more we discover about Christ so we can cultivate a deeper, personal relationship with HIM… and his Mother, too (because Mary leads us to him)!
The fellowship luncheon that followed
our prayer rally.
Lastly, just turn on your TVs and watch the news – evil is spreading like wildfire! More shootings; more
blatant, public displays of violence and aggression; legislation of infanticide; more people turning to esoteric, occult, and even satanic beliefs; increased vandalism of churches, etc. It’s a sign of more terrible things to
come - a diabolic darkness that seems to be encroaching closer and closer into our own personal worlds, which is why maintaining a strong bond with Jesus is so important today. HE is the LIGHT, as Scriptures say... and, if we have a deep abiding faith-relationship with him, he dwells in us; as such, the darkness can never engulf us.
This is why Our Lady emphasized the Rosary at Fatima; a message that remains relevant in our present time despite the passing of 102 years. So as we pray the Rosary and keep the Lord’s Light burning bright within us, may our light lead others who are lost in the dark back to God.
Our Lady of Fatima,
the Lady of the Rosary,
pray for us!
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