The International Fatima Pilgrim Virgin Statue comes to Hawaii!

  

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue

of Fatima, as displayed for public veneration

in the church of St. John the Apostle and

Evangelist in Mililani (Oahu), Hawaii.

[click on each photo on this blog to

view larger images]

At this writing, Hawaii is being graced by the presence of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.  This is the world-renowned image, carved by the Portuguese sculptor, Jose Thedim, in 1947... and which miraculously wept human tears on several occasions, most notably in Las Vegas and in New Orleans (see the photo below).  In addition to the tears, other signs associated with the statue include changes to its facial expression and posture, the fragrance of roses, and healings.

The hallowed statue will be touring Hawaiian parishes from November 1st until November 21st, 2014.  Tonight it was present at St. John the Apostle & Evangelist Catholic Church in Mililani Town from 8:00pm to Midnight, where I had the joyful opportunity to venerate it and pray a Rosary in front of it.

I arrived at the Mililani parish at about 10:00pm and it wasn't crowded at all although there was a steady stream of people coming and going while I was at the church.  Right when I walked in I immediately sensed the peoples' devotion and love pouring out towards the Blessed Mother.  I was moved.

The statue, itself, was magnificent; almost life-like in appearance.  The presence of Our Lady emanating from the image was also quite tangible; just looking at it gave me goosebumps and the impression that I was in the presence of something that was touched by the hand of God.  I was awed.

For readers out there who have never heard of the Fatima Events, it all began on May 13, 1917, when the Blessed Virgin appeared to three shepherd children in the Portuguese hamlet of Fatima.  Our Lady went on to appear five more times in the consecutive months to deliver an urgent message for all mankind, which was primarily a call for sinners to convert; a request for atonement of the sins of the world; and to pray the Rosary, especially for Peace.

The child-seers of Fatima (L to R):

Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Blesseds

Francisco & Jacinta Marto.

Adding credence to the apparitions was a great solar miracle that occurred on October 13, 1917, which was witnessed by 70,000+ pilgrims.  Furthermore, several predictions uttered by the Virgin - e.g. the end of World War I, the start of World War II, and the fall of Communist Russia - were all accurately fulfilled.  The apparitions were approved by the local Bishop in October 1930, and the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was commissioned with the intent that it be a traveling  "ambassador" of the legacy and message of the Fatima apparitions.  The sacred image has since traveled extensively, but now mainly in the USA.

  

Local pilgrims gathered around the world-

famous representation of Our Lady of Fatima.

As tired as I was from a long day, my distant drive to see the miracle statue was well worth it.  I offered my Rosary for family, friends, and also for the Poor Souls whose Feast was celebrated today.  I am going to sleep tonight very grateful to God and Our Lady for yet another special blessing in my life.

For Hawaii locals interested in seeing the Pilgrim Virgin Statue, please click here to access/download the tour schedule from the official website of the Honolulu Diocese.  May Our Lady of Fatima pray and intercede for our island home.

First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 11/1/2014

The sacred relics of the Blessed Mother's veil...

and those of four Saints and a Blessed were

venerated in our parish's Day Chapel during

the First Saturday Rosary.

Happy Feast of All Saints!  Today's First Saturday Rosary gathering at St. Anthony of Padua Church was all about the Saints - five well-known and very loved Saints, spanning from the early years of Christianity to modern times, were represented in our Day Chapel by their respective relics: St. John Paul II (clothing relic), St. Peregrine Laziosi (bone relic), St. Philomena (clothing relic), St. Padre Pio Forgione (stigmata bandage relic), Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (clothing relic)... and, of course... Our Lady, the Queen of All Saints (veil relic).

Prior to our Rosary Prayer beginning, I briefly introduced the prayer participants to the different Saints whose Holy Relics were present... and emphasized to them that, through the lives of the Saints/Blesseds, God invites us to:

A) Be HOLY; sanctity is attainable for all people regardless of age, race, or vocation.  (Hebrews 12:15)

B) Live with HOPE and JOY anticipating that, if we persevere in following in the footsteps of Christ, we can also look forward to enjoying Heaven with the Saints/Blesseds who have gone before us.  (James 1:12)

After our prayer ended, many of us walked over to the main church for the Saturday evening Vigil Mass.  As I participated - praying and singing along with the rest of the congregation - I tried to imagine what Heaven was like today; all its inhabitants must be feasting, singing, and rejoicing exceedingly while the Church on earth paid them special honor.  I wished I could be there to witness the major party that was going in Heaven.

After each Mass, many parishioners stop

to say a prayer and/or light a candle at the

reliquary of our St. Anthony of Padua

Personally, I have been helped countless times through the intercession of Our Lady and such Saints, as St. Anthony of Padua and St. Gemma Galgani (my Patron Saints); St. Joseph; and St. Philomena... so today's Feast holds special meaning for me.  It was with deep gratitude that I thanked our Lord, in an extra-special way, for his abundant blessings manifested through the lives and good works of Our Lady and the Saints.  Click here to learn more about the lives of various Saints/Blesseds and allow yourselves to be inspired.  Grace and benediction will follow!  

The next First Saturday Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church will be prayed on December 6th.  Join us as we pray for World Peace in the spiritual company of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a featured Saint/Relic of the Month. 

"Love God, serve God;

everything is in that." 

~ St. Clare of Assisi

Saint of the Month - November 2014: Blessed Grimoaldo Santamaria

Bl. Grimoaldo Santamaria

A Youthful Disciple of the Passion

Memorial: November 18th

This month's featured holy person - Ferdinando Santamaria - was born on May 4, 1883 in Pontecorvo, Italy; the oldest child of five siblings born to a poor family.  From a very early age, he stood out from other children through his love of prayer and his attraction to spiritual matters; serving his parish as an altar server and choir member.

Ferdinando also had a penchant for voluntary mortifications, which gave evidence of an advanced spiritual mindset for one so young.  In fact, at 7-years-old, he was said to have thrown himself into a thorny bush to feel some of the pain of Christ's Passion.  His unusual piety caused misunderstandings with his peers but earned him reverence from the older townsfolk.  It was also during his childhood that the Lord confirmed his favor with Ferdinando through a miracle witnessed by his family.

One of the few existing photographs of 

Bl. Grimoaldo.  This author took the liberty

of enhancing it using A.I. technology.

It’s recorded that on one occasion, while the boy was absorbed in prayer, he was suddenly surrounded by a radiance then levitated about a foot off the ground!  Following this remarkable event, it wasn’t a surprise to his family when the 15-year-old teen left home to enter the Passionist Congregation in their novitiate at Paliano.  His father - a rope maker - had intended for Ferdinand to continue the family trade, but the boy had his heart set on following Jesus.  Upon joining the Passionists, he took the religious name of Bro. Grimoaldo of the Purification.

The teenager was professed a permanent member of the Passionists in March 1900, at the age of 17.  He took as his special role-models the Blessed Virgin and a former member of his congregation - St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin (d. 1862) - to whom he was devoted and strove to emulate.  Grimoaldo then went on to train for the priesthood in the Passionist Seminary at Ceccano, but it wasn’t God’s will that he become a priest.  Instead, in 1902 the seminarian contracted acute meningitis, which quickly undermined the normally healthy young man.  Although every effort was being made to save him, Grimoaldo predicted he would die from the illness on November 18th of the same year.  Sadly, his words proved to be true - Grimoaldo was only 19-years-old when he entered into his eternal reward on the exact date he foresaw.

The Blessed's tomb in the parish

church of Ceccano.

Given his reputation for heroic virtue, the Passionists promoted Grimoaldo’s Cause for Sainthood with the enthusiastic support of his religious brethren and his family members.  After authenticating a miraculous cure attributed to his intercession, the Church proclaimed him Blessed on January 29, 1995.  Bl. Grimoaldo of the Purification, pray for us!

A Reflection

True devotion to Mary leads to JESUS CHRIST.

A Short Prayer

Dearest Blessed Mother, in the same way by which you led Bl. Grimoaldo Santamaria, lead us, too, on the surest and quickest path to your Divine Son, Jesus Christ.   Amen.