NEWS:  The First Saturday in October falls on October 1st which happens to be the Feast of St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus and Holy Face, “The little Flower”. The following are excerpts from Vicki Schreiner’s book “Chronology of the Holy Face Devotion.” Vicki visited the Shrine back in August and gave a presentation on the Holy Face Devotion she brought with her a first class Relic of the Holy Face. The following is what she wrote about St. Therese the little Flower.  “By the time Teresa was twelve years old, she was accustomed to venerating the Holy Face of Jesus with her family, as it was represented on the veil of Veronica.  On April 26, 1885, Theresa, her sisters Marie, Leonie, and Celine, as well as her father, were enrolled in the Confraternity of the Holy Face in Tours.  In that same year Pope Leo XIII raised it to the status of Arch confraternity and established it for the entire world.”  “A few months after St. Therese entered the convent, Sr. Agnes (Theresa’s sister Pauline) asked the prioress for permission to give Theresa the book which had recently been published “Life of Sr. Marie Pierre”, and to be allowed to instruct her in the Holy Face Devotion. To trace its history at Lisieux, the Holy Face devotion had already taken deep roots. The foundress of the Carmel of Lisieux, mother Genevieve, as early as 1847 (while Sr. Marie Pierre still lived in her Tours cloister) had already accepted the Revelations concerning Reparations through devotion to the Holy Face… Without delay, she got the picture of the Holy Face, and had it exposed in the public chapel of the convent…Mother Genevieve had at once embraced it for herself and her convent both privately and publicly. Now, many years later (around 1876), although Mother Genevieve was old and confined in the infirmary, she had hopes for a young novice, Sr. Agnes (St. Theresa’s Sister) who showed rare spiritual discernment.  Mother Genevieve now encouraged her to pin her gaze on the Face of Jesus and keep it there in a spirit of Reparation. Young Sr. Agnes obeyed, and discovered a world of new meaning in her vocation.  When her youngest sister, Theresa, entered Carmel a few short years later, she enjoined her to embrace it as well. St. Theresa’s words: “Until then I had not appreciated the beauties of the Holy Face, and it was you my little Mother (Sr. Agnes), who unveiled them to me. Just as you had been the first to leave our home for Carmel, so, too, were you the first to penetrate the mysteries of love hidden in the Face our Divine Spouse”…The day of St. Theresa’s investiture was January 10, 1889.  This was the clothing Ceremony, the end of which was to transform a person of the world into a religious of Mount Carmel.( It was expected that Sr. Theresa would have the name Sr. Theresa of the Child Jesus, but at her investiture she chose to add the object of her adoration to her name.)  On that day Sr. Theresa became Sr. Theresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. It took an additional eight months before Sr. Theresa was permitted to take her Profession of Vows. Before doing so, she was required to go through a ten-day retreat to withdraw within herself with no distractions.  She used this time to meditate on our Lord’s Holy Face as the Supreme Object of her Adoration. The evening before her profession a darkness consumed her, and she felt she couldn’t take her vows. She held the small Holy Face that she kept and prayed for help. Immediately the darkness left her soul.”     pg.93,95-96  Sr. Marie Pierre was a Carmelite nun in Tours France where Our Lord revealed to her this devotion, Mother Genevieve lived with her for a time in the Tours Carmelite cloister before coming to Lisieux.  St. Theresa the Greatest saint of modern times pray for us!

 

FIRST SATURDAY:   

 

CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION: Join us for our Candlelight Processions on Thursday October 13th. to commemorate the miracle of the sun.  We will start with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8pm. The Rev. Ed Riley will preach.

 

MMP PRAYER CENACLE:   The next Marian Movement of Priest prayer Cenacles will be held on October 29th at the shrine at 9:00 am. Please join us as we pray for priests, peace and the family.

 

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.

 

Pro-Life Mass and March for Men: On October 15th, Rev. Mike McNamara will celebrate a Pro-life mass at 10:30 am at the Fatima Shrine. After the mass Men head to Plan Parenthood for the Men’s March.

 

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 for  this devotion on Fridays at noon.  

 

The Crusaders of Fatima are always looking for volunteers to help out at our devotional services, if you are interested call the number for the shrine at (617) 903-8455

The next board meeting is on  October 22, for those board members please try to attend, it is our annual board meeting in which we elect new officers.

Novena prayer to St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus and the Holy Face:

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth.

Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intentions)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, you blessed St. Therese with a capacity for great love. Help me to believe in your unconditional love for each of your children, especially for me.

I love you, Lord. Help me to love you more!

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.