The upcoming centennial of our Lady’s apparitions in Cova da Iria and the Pope’s pilgrimage to Fatima awaken once again in our hearts, in a special way, Saint Josemaría’s ardent desire: Omnes cum Petro ad Iesum per Mariam! Let us accompany Pope Francis with the closeness that is made possible by prayer. And let us leave in our Mother’s hands the big intentions of peace and conversion that she made known in her apparitions. Let us also entrust to her the unity of the Church and of Christians, so that—all with Peter!—we may sow peace and joy in the world. To the intercession of the soon to be saints Francisco and Jacinta we entrust all those suffering from the physical and spiritual consequences of violence, war, lack of freedom, discrimination, loneliness, poverty. Our Lady recommended the Rosary at Fatima. Let us pray it with the affection and trust of children who have recourse to their Mother’s heart.
Our prayer will be fruitful if the peace and fraternity that imbue our Lady’s messages become more present in an attentive, open and refined love for those God places at our side. Charity isn’t cold good manners. Let us meditate on it slowly: in our home, at work, in our relationships with everyone, despite our limitations and impatience, can the others recognize in us something of Mary’s maternal look?
Rome, 10 May 2017