Papal approval of the Message of Fatima
Webmaster • November 22, 2024
Papal approval of the Message of Fatima
This is third of a series of brief articles which summarise the principal points in Tim Tindal-Robertson's MESSAGE OF FATIMA in the Life of the Church and the Teaching of the Popes, which was published by the Catholic Truth Society, London, in 1998, together with his FATIMA IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, CTS London, 2001.
The continuing papal approval of Fatima was summarised by Cardinal Ratzinger in an interview at Fatima on 13th October 1996:
“In the most solemn way possible Popes Pius XII, Paul VI and John Paul II have already recognised Fatima and were totally committed to this devotion” (Seers of Fatima, Oct-Dec 1996, pp. 6, 7).
This third article concerns Pope John XXIII, who reigned between 23 October 1958 to 2 June 1963
Pope John XXIII was the first Pope to have visited Fatima in May 1956, when he was Patriarch of Venice.
On 13 December 1962, John XXIII instituted the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, and on 13 May 1963, the day the new feast was first celebrated at Fatima, Cardinal Larraona, the Pope’s Legate, delivered a message to all the world’s priests in which he stated:
“The message of Fatima is a living realisation of the Gospel … Indeed, never has there been a supernatural manifestation of such rich spiritual content as that of Fatima, nor has any recognised apparition given us a message so clear, so maternal, so profound … Live it and cause it to be lived”.
We continue to prepare for the Cathedral Visitations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First Five Saturday Devotion of Reparation throughout England and Wales. The first visit will take place on the 3rd May 2025 when we visit St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, Wales. We will then visit a further 13 Cathedrals in 2025, with the remaining Cathedral visits being concluded by 31 Oct 2026 when we visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of The Most Precious Blood at Westminster. You can see details of these Visitations, here ... In addition, we will be visiting local parishes and hope that you will be able to join us in our pilgrimage of Hope around England and Wales. The purpose of the World Apostolate of Fatima is help spread the message of Fatima and follow in the footsteps of Sister Lucia and her cousins, in helping to restore the centrality of God in our lives. Please help us in our journey of Faith and join us for the Cathedral and Parish visits. If you would like to arrange a visit to your parish, please send us a message Ave Maria!
This month we celebrate the feast day of Saints Francisco and Jacinta on the 20th February. Two of the three shepherd children, Jacinta and Francisco, lived short but heroic lives and dedicated themselves in service to God’s Will and the message of Hope emanating from Fatima. It is also important to remember the calling of the three little shepherds from Fatima, whose lives were transformed by their service, sacrifice and acts of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They were chosen to reveal to the world God's message of Hope, heaven's peace plan, to a world that was turning away from God. This message is still so relevant today and that is why it’s important to recognise the signs of the times in our day and the power of prayer in our lives. Our Lady gave us the Rosary through St Dominic, and in Fatima asked the children to pray the Rosary every day. She also said that Jesus wants her to be known and loved throughout the world and we can help to do this through the First Five Saturday devotion of Reparation.
We are not currently accepting parish bookings for Pilgrim Virgin Statue visitations for the SOUTHERN dioceses, but you can still make PARISH bookings for the NORTHERN dioceses by contacting Patrick Cunningham at the email address below. NORTHERN DIOCESES (Hexham & Newcastle, Lancaster, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Salford, Liverpool, Hallam, Shrewsbury, Nottingham, and Wrexham) – Submit your request her e SOUTHERN DIOCESES (Plymouth, Clifton, Portsmouth, Arundel & Brighton, Southwark, Brentwood, Westminster, Northampton, East Anglia, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Menevia)
The WAF England & Wales Prayer intention for February is " That the Feast of the Little shepherds helps to inspire us all to live and celebrate the centenary of the Five First Saturdays Devotion. "
Members of WAF England and Wales met with Cardinal Nichols to request Fatima Statue Visitations to the Cathedrals of England and Wales for the Centenary of the revelation of the First Saturdays Devotions in 2025. This has been agreed, and the tour of the Statues will begin in May 2025 and conclude in October 2026. This programme coincides with the Great Jubilee Year for the Church next year. These special Jubilee celebrations take place every 25 years, and the theme for next year’s is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
First Saturday Devotions at St Mary’s Catholic Church , Cullercoats, North Shields, NE30 3EY Join us at St Mary's Catholic Church for our Fatima devotion to the First Five Saturday's. Visitors are very welcome for this special event. Time and further information Rosary 9.30a.m, in the Blessed Sacrament chapel; Holy Mass follows at 10.00 am followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Contact http://www.northtynesidecatholic.org.uk/
The Five First Saturdays devotion is no longer done publicly at Brompton Oratory in London. Join us a t Devotion at Brompton Oratory for our Fatima devotion to the First Five Saturday's. Visitors are very welcome for this special event. Time and further information The devotion can be done privately, and the Oratory is ideal for this because the church is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There are public Masses on Saturday and Confessions are easily available throughout most of the day either in church or at Oratory House. Also the church is open all day for those wanting to pray the rosary or do their 15 minutes meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Contact https://www.bromptonoratory.co.uk/
Five First Saturdays Devotion at The Most Precious Blood and St Edmund, 115 Hertford Road, Edmonton, London, N9 7EN Join us a t Devotion at The Most Precious Blood and St Edmund for our Fatima devotion to the First Five Saturday's. Visitors are very welcome for this special event. Time and further information First Five Saturdays devotions begin with Adoration of the Blessed sacrament at 11.00am with confessions during exposition, until 12.00 noon, when Holy Mass takes place. The Rosary is after Mass and then there is the 15 minute meditation. (For a normal Saturday, as above but there is no meditation after the Rosary). Contact https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/edmonton/
Five First Saturdays Devotion at St Mary of the Angels, Moorhouse Road, Bayswater, London, W2 5DJ Join us a t Devotion at St Mary of Angles for our Fatima devotion to the First Five Saturday's. Visitors are very welcome for this special event. Time and further information First Saturdays commencing 5 October 2019 – The probable format is as follows, but please check before travelling: 8:00 am Adoration, 9.40 am Meditation on Rosary, 9.55 am Benediction, 10:00 am Mass, 10.30 am Rosary (Confessions till 11:00 am). Contact https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/bayswater/
Five First Saturdays Devotion at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Morriston, Swansea Join us a t Devotion at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for our Fatima devotion to the First Five Saturday's. Visitors are very welcome for this special event. Time and further information 1st Saturday of the month, from May to October Sacred Heart parish keeps the 1st Saturday request of Our Lady at Fatima. 10:10 am Act of reparation, 10.15 am Holy Rosary, 10.30am Holy Mass 11:15am Eucharistic Adoration, plus confessions allowing for a 15 minute meditation on the Rosary, plus adoration, and confessions, concluding with Act of Consecration and reparation to the Immaculate Heart, plus Fatima Ave, and Benediction at 11.45am. (Between November and April the details are as follows: 10.15 am Holy Rosary,10.30am Holy Mass, followed by confessions, and allowing for a 15 minute meditation on the Rosary.) Contact https://sacredheartmorriston.org.uk/
