Calendar
- 1 St. Alphonsus Liguori
- 2 St. Eusebiua
- 4 St. John Vianney
- 5 Dedication St. Mary Major
- 6 The Transfiguration/First Saturday
- 8 St. Dominic
- 9 St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
- 13 Candlelight Procession
- 15 The Assumption of the BVM/ Cenacle
- 20 St. Bernard
- 22 The Queenship of Mary
- 23 St. Rose of Lima
- 24 St. Bartholomew
- 27 St. Monica
- 29 The Passion of St. John the Baptist
News: The following are excerpts from Sister Lucia’s memoirs and “The Whole Truth about Fatima – Vol I: “The day which the parish priest had appointed for the solemn First Communion of the children of the parish was drawing near. Since I knew my catechism and was already six years old, my mother thought that perhaps I could now make my First Communion. To this end she sent me with my sister Caroline to the catechism instructions which the parish priest was giving to the children, in preparation for this great day. I went, therefore, radiant with joy, hoping soon to be able to receive my God for the first time. The priest gave his instructions, seated in a chair up on a platform. He called me to his side, and when one or another of the children was unable to answer his question, he told me to give the answer instead, just to shame them. The eve of the great day arrived, and the priest sent word that all the children were to go to the church in the afternoon, so that he could make the final decision as to which ones were to make their First Communion. What was my disappointment when he called me up beside him, caressed me and then said I was to wait till I was seven years old! I began to cry at once, and just as I would have done with my own mother, I laid my head on his knees and sobbed. It happened that another priest who had been called in to help with the confessions, entered the church just at that moment. Seeing me in this position, he asked me the reason for my tears. On being informed, he took me to the sacristy and examined me on the catechism and the mystery of the Eucharist. After this, he took me by the hand and brought me to the parish priest, saying, “Father Pena, you can let this child go to Communion. She understands what she’s doing better than many of the others.” “But she’s only six years old”, objected the good priest. “Never mind! I’ll take the responsibility for that.” “All right, then”, the good priest said to me. “Go and tell your mother that you are making your first Communion tomorrow.” It is not without importance that Lucy had this rare privilege from a priest who undoubtedly will one day be raised to the altar and who was an expert on the knowledge of souls. We are speaking of the good Father Cruz who, in 1947, confirmed to Canon Barthas the exactness of all the facts reported by Sister Lucy in her Memoirs. Now Father Cruz was known as a saint in all of Portugal, where he was going all over preaching from parish to parish. Having become a Jesuit, he died at Lisbon on October 1, 1948, and the renown of his sanctity was so great that the process for his beatification was opened in the spring of 1951. In 1917, he was one of the first priests to openly come out in favor of the apparitions. He came back several times to Aljustrel to counsel and encourage the three seers, whom he loved as a father. But now let us return to Lucy’s narrative: I could never express the joy I felt. Off I went, clapping my hands with delight, and running all the way home to give the good news to my mother. She at once set about preparing me for the confession I was to make that afternoon. My mother took me to the church, and when we arrived, I told her that I wanted to confess to the other priest. So we went to the sacristy, where he was sitting on a chair hearing confessions. My mother knelt in front of the high altar near the sacristy door, together with the other mothers who were waiting for their children to confess in turn. Right there before the Blessed Sacrament, my mother gave me her last recommendations. When my turn came round, I went and knelt at the feet of our dear Lord, represented there in the person of His minister, imploring forgiveness for my sins. When I had finished, I noticed that everyone was laughing. My mother called me and said: “My child, don’t you know that confession is a secret matter and that it is made in a low voice? Everybody heard you! There was only one thing nobody heard: that is what you said at the end.” On the way home, my mother made several attempts to discover what she called the secret of my confession. But she obtained nothing but a stony silence. I am now going to disclose this secret of my first confession. After listening to me, the good priest said these few words: “My child, your soul is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep it always pure so that He will be able to carry on His Divine action within it.” On hearing these words, I felt myself filled with respect for myself, and asked the kind confessor what I ought to do. “Kneel down there before Our Lady and ask Her, with great confidence, to take care of your heart, to prepare it to receive Her beloved Son worthily tomorrow, and to keep it for Him alone?” In the church there was more than one statue of Our Lady, but as my sisters took care of the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary, I usually went there to pray. That is why I went there on this occasion also, to ask Her with all the ardor of my soul, to keep my poor heart for God alone. As I repeated this humble prayer over and over again, with my eyes fixed on the statue, it seemed to me that She smiled, and with a loving look and kindly gesture, assured me that She would. My heart was overflowing with joy, and I could scarcely utter a single word. My sisters stayed up that night making me a white dress and a wreath of flowers. As for me, I was so happy that I could not sleep, as it seemed as if the hours would never pass! I kept on getting up to ask them if the day had come, or if they wanted me to try on my dress, or my wreath, and so forth. The happy day dawned at last – how long it was in coming! I put on my white dress, and then my sister Maria took me into the kitchen to ask pardon from my parents, to kiss their hands, and ask their blessing. After this little ceremony, my mother gave me her last recommendations. She told me what she wanted me to ask Our Lord when I had received Him into my heart and said goodbye to me in these words: “Above all, ask Him to make you a saint!” I had the good fortune to be the first one to receive. As the priest was coming down the altar steps, I felt as though my heart would leap from my breast. But he had no sooner placed the Divine Host on my tongue than I felt an unalterable serenity and peace. I felt myself bathed in such a supernatural atmosphere that the presence of Our Dear Lord became as clearly perceptible to me as if I had seen and heard Him with my bodily senses. I then addressed my prayer to Him: “O Lord, make me a saint. Keep my heart always pure, for You alone.” Then it seemed that in the depths of my heart, Our Dear Lord distinctly spoke these words to me: “The grace granted to you this day will remain living in your soul, producing fruits of eternal life.” I felt as though I was transformed in God. It was almost one o’clock before the ceremonies were over, on account of the late arrival of priests coming from a distance, the sermon, and the renewal of baptismal promises. My mother came looking for me, quite distressed, thinking I might faint from weakness. But I, filled to overflowing with the Bread of Angels, found it impossible to taste any food whatsoever. After this, I lost the taste and attraction for the things of the world, and only felt at home in some solitary place where, all alone, I could recall the delights of my First Communion.
Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite. The Whole Truth about Fatima – Vol I (Kindle Locations (651 -716). ebook.assembler.
FIRST SATURDAY: On Saturday August 6th, we will celebrate the First Saturday Mass and devotion; the celebrant will be the Rev. Anthony Michalik CSSR. Confessions will be available, and coffee/doughnuts/refreshments. Weather permitting we will have outside setup and procession.
CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION: Join us for our Candlelight Processions on Saturday August 13th. We will start with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8pm. The Reverend Ron Tacelli S.J. will preside over the service.
MMP PRAYER CENACLE: The next Marian Movement of Priest prayer Cenacles will be held at the shrine on Monday August 15 the Feast of The Assumption of the BVM at 9:00 am. Please join us as we pray for priests, peace and the family. The Most Reverend Andre Feian FI will join us.
SANTO ROSARIO: Santuario Nuestra Señora de Fátima. The Spanish Community of St. Columbkille’s most Holy Rosary group meets at the shrine at 3pm every First Saturday of the month for song, prayer and fellowship all are welcomed.
SUNDAY ROSARY FOR PEACE: There are many of us who meet at the shrine every Sunday to come together to pray The Rosary for peace. We begin around 2pm, all are welcomed.
REMINDER: A Pro-Life Rosary for our nation continues at the Shrine daily around noon all are welcomed; With a special attention given to the devotion of the Holy Face of Christ, and the Flame of Love. If you would like to lead this rosary we are looking for someone to keep this devotion going.
