Hello Brother Knights,
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the 4rth appearance of Mary to the three children at Fatima. But unlike the other appearances, this one was delayed from Aug 13 (Mary appeared on 13th of each month from May through Oct, except in Aug) to Aug 19th.
The reason – the children were detained by government officials who were not friendly to Catholics, and who wanted the children to disclose the secret that Mary had shared with them and declare that they had made up the whole thing. If they didn’t, the children (ages 10, 9 and 7) were told they would be lowered slowly into boiling oil, with the flesh being burned from their bones, until they died. Starting with the youngest, each was demanded to disclose the secret and each held steadfast, refusing and stating that they preferred death rather than reveal our Lady’s secret. Then each was escorted from the room. The officials did not want to make martyrs of the children, so they were actually released, but can you imagine the strength, the resolve and the faith of these little children?
To commemorate the apparitions, there are two events that will occur this week at IW. On Thursday, August 17 at 7 pm in the church, we will show three episodes from Fr. Michael Gaitley’s Divine Mercy Series. These episodes show how the events at Fatima, Divine Mercy and St. John Paul II are all connected. The episodes will last about 80 to 90 minutes in total and then we invite you to stay to pray the Rosary starting around 8:30 pm.
On Saturday, August 19th, the exact day of the apparition in August 100 years ago, we will pray the Rosary at 6 pm in the church (immediately following the 5 pm Mass). At each of the apparitions, Mary specifically requested that we pray the Rosary daily. At IW, on Mondays through Saturdays, there are 2 opportunities to join others to pray the Rosary, at 7:20 am and 8:20 am, either in the Multi-purpose Room above the parish offices (while construction continues in the lower church hall) or in the church (when construction has been completed).
Please honor Mary’s request. Join us Saturday evening and/or Monday through Saturday. If you can’t make it to IW, please pray the Rosary or your own or with your family.
Ted Juen
100th Anniversary of Fatima Apparitions – Aug Events Full Page.doc
