SHRINE NEWS: July is the month of the Precious Blood of Jesus, which reminded me of the encounter the children had with an Angel in 1916 on three separate occasions. The first appearance occurred in the spring when they were shepherding sheep in a place known as the Cabeco. The Angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me,” he knelt down, bowed his forehead to the ground, and said, “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I loveYou! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.” He taught them to repeat these words three times. When he had risen from the ground, and before disappearing, he said to them, “Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplication.” The next appearance took place at the well in the back of Lucia’s house in the summer. He surprised them by saying, “What are you doing? Pray, pray very much! The most holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High.” Make everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which he is offended and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You will thus draw down peace upon your country. I am its Angel Guardian, the Angel of Portugal. Above all , accept and bear with submission the sufferings which Our Lord will send you.” The children were at the Cabeco again, when he appeared for a third time in the fall. He held in his left hand a chalice. Suspended above the chalice was a Sacred Host and from the suspended Host drops of Blood fell into the chalice. The angel removed his hand from the chalice so that it, too, was suspended in the air and then he knelt down while praying. “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly and offer You the most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He Himself is offended. And through the infinite merits of His most Sacred Heart, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners.” The Host he placed on Lucia’s tongue and he shared the Blood from the chalice between Francisco and Jacinta. As he administered the Sacred Species the angel said, “Eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men! Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.” The First Saturday is a good time for making reparations!
FIRST SATURDAY:
On July 3rd we will celebrate First Saturday Mass and devotion at the Shrine. We will have hand sanitizer on hand, and an indoor/outdoor setup. Mass will begin at 9am; Rev. Ron Tacelli S.J., will celebrate the mass. We plan on resuming processing around the grounds as part of the First Saturday devotion. Confessions will be available followed by coffee and doughnuts.
CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION:
I hope all could join us for our Third of six Candlelight processions on July 13th. The most Rev. Anthony Michalik C.S.s.R will be our honored Guest. We will begin at 8PM at the shrine, there is plenty of room both inside and outside, pray that the weather will be nice.
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: A reminder that there are still a handful of us that meet at the shrine every Sunday to come together to pray for peace. We begin around 2pm, feel free to stop by.
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.