Fatima Conspiracy Theories?

First Saturday Devotions were once well known, but not so today.  I got introduced to them at Assumption Grotto, where the secular Carmelite community I joined met on the First Saturday of each month.  Incidentally, I made my final promise today and am now a Carmelite for life!  While I have a great devotion to spiritual mother and father of the Carmelite order, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, I also have a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I did the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary on August 15th, 2005 after doing the 33-day prep by St. Louis de Montfort.


On this First Saturday, I would like to share with you an email I got from Andrew Rabel, Australian correspondent for Inside the Vatican magazine.  Andrew, who visited Assumption Grotto in 2009, is a great Fatima devotee.  With his permission, I share his email, with some additional thoughts of my own, below.

Debunking Fatima Conspiracy Theories
Dear friends,

English Catholic journalist and commentator, Joanna Bogle, has written a very good review of Fr Andrew Apostoli CFR's book, Fatima for Today.

Fr Apostoli, belongs to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and is a regular on EWTN, as is Joanna.

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/1144/fatima_and_conspiracy_theories.aspx

The book has the endorsement of Cardinal Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, so I think we can safely say this represents the view of the Holy See, on these matters.

The true message of Fatima has been distorted by groups and individuals who want to link it with various conspiracy theories, whereas as Ven Pius XII said, "Fatima is a reaffirmation of the Gospels" which are the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ, not the bad news! The latter was said to me by my mentor Fr Robert Fox, the Fatima priest. God rest his soul.

Our Lady's message at Fatima is about prayer, penance, reparation and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which sadly do not get much of a guernsey in church circles, these days. (I am looking forward to 2017 for this, which I believe will be a whole year dedicated to Fatima, its centenary!) Tomorrow is the First Saturday of the month, and integral here is the devotion to the Five First Saturdays. The Alliance of the Two Hearts always have a vigil in our parish church for this occasion.

Joanna has really distilled the essence of what the problem is here, and I am very grateful to her.

in the hearts of Jesus & Mary,
Andrew

Some years ago, when Antonio Socci's, 'The Fourth Secret of Fatima' was released, I picked up a copy and began to read it.  I set it aside without finishing it.  People will often play a little, "fill in the blank" in the absence of some piece of information and it is filled in with a suggested line of thought (which often come across as fact).  Just because several pieces of information lead in a particular direction, doesn't make it so.

I emailed a mariologist I know overseas, back then, and asked him if he was familiar with Socci's work.  He referred me to a professor in Italy who encouraged me to read Antonio Borelli's, "Some Friendly Reflections for the Clarification of a Debate".   It was exactly what I was looking for - a thorough "fisking" of some key points in Socci's work.  I highly recommend this, in addition to what Andrew Rabel has offered, especially if you have bought Socci's book, or are thinking about it.


A major promoter of the Fatima conspiracy theories, whose website I will not link to, nor permit links to in my combox, had a response to Antonio Borelli's piece, but he didn't bother to share the entire document with his readers, nor direct them to it.  Rather, he quoted select statements, then addressed them.  This leaves the discerning reader at a disadvantage.  Well, I read Borelli's document and his response to it, and I'm sticking with Borelli.  I am sticking with it because he offers alternative possibilities to those "blanks" that were filled in by Socci.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church encourages us to interpret the words of others in the most favorable light (CCC 2478).

I know that if I do what Our Lady asked at Fatima and hold steadfastly to the basics: Prayer, fasting, penance, consecration, and do First Saturdays, it is 100% fault-free and 100% beneficial to the Church while bringing me graces at the same time.  However, if I do all of those things, but then spend hours and hours on things that seem to require me to think the worst of certain prelates, I put my immortal soul at risk.  I cannot claim that 100% is fault-free (especially if I must accept theories that exclude considerations that offer alternate explanations, or if it is dependent on rash judgments (even those of other people).   I am reminded of what Fr. Hardon wrote about imprudence in his

IMPRUDENCE  Sins against prudence that are either by defect or by excess. Sins by defect against prudence are: rashness, which acts before due consideration has been given; thoughtlessness, which neglects to take the necessary circumstances into account; and negligence, which does not give the mind sufficient time for mature deliberation.

Here again is the link to the review of Fr. Apostoli's book (below) at Catholic World Report by Joanna Bogle.

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Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Audio: Colin Donovan of EWTN on Medjugorje

Note: This post has been edited at the bottom to include a link which has the 9 minute segment isolated.

I listened to the Friday edition of EWTN's Open Line with Colin Donovan, the VP of Theology at the network on May 21, 2010.  The audio is now available online.

Every now and then callers will ask about apparitions, most often referring to Medjugorje.  I am only going to give you a few quotes and a lead in, leaving Colin to explain most of this through the audio.  I am leaving out some key things so that you can hear it from him.

This audio could get moved on Monday as a new show is uploaded.  I will probably have to change the URL, so if you are looking for the audio and do not find the right one (May 21, 2010), then drop a note in the combox and I'll update it from the archives.

In this two hour segment, if you slide the bar to 1 hour 28 minutes, the question will come in about with all the sin in the world, can one follow apparitions in these times if they find them compatible with the Gospel, and see nothing contrary to their own "faith and reason".   The woman begins by using Catherine Laboure as an example.  She also talks about how the people followed the children of Fatima before it was approved, and asks the question: How would there have been a "miracle of the sun" if no one had followed Fatima before approval? Colin gives a solid answer. 

He then discusses his thoughts on whether apparitions are happening "in these times".   He talks about holiness of the visionaries using Fatima and Lourdes as examples.   Further dialogue with the woman then prompts him to explain the difference between a mystic and a visionary, which was good because these two things do get confused. 

As the discussion progressed, and the woman pressed, still not mentioning Medjugorje, Colin admonished listeners to "keep their ear to the ground and listen to the Church and what she is saying about things because when she says 'no', we better say, 'no' because the Church will be right 99.9% of the times....and we will be wrong".

He then goes deeper into details of Fatima and it's approval, that it was headed in the direction of approval from the beginning because it was credible, was not opposed by Church authority, the children were humble and behaved as you would expect. He noted that it was approved just 13 years later. 

That's when the woman finally brings up Medjugorje.  She pointed out that Mother Angelica talked about Medjugorje in a positive light.  How did Colin respond?  You'll have to listen to find out.

Click here to begin the MP3 audio and use the slider bar to go to 1:28

EDIT May 25, 2010: Try this link for the 9 minute segment which has been isolated.




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Interview with Cardinal Saraiva Martins following the Holy Father's visit to Fatima

Below is a translation of an interview with His Eminence, José Cardinal Saraiva Martins, C.M.F., done by Gianluca Barile of the Italian Catholic site, Petrus (before clicking that link, know that there is a hymn which begins playing automatically, so if you are on a work computer turn off the sound - LOL).  Cardinal Saraiva, one of six Cardinal-Bishops, is the prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. The interview was on Fatima and Pope Benedict XVI's visit last week.

I first read this interview through a google translator and thought it was worth having in English.  I turned to Richard Chonak of Catholic Light who has done many other translations from Italian and German at his blog.  After he translated it and sent it to me, I emailed it to Mr. Barile and asked for his approval to make it available to English readers on my blog, which he granted.

To my Italian visitors, and readers of Italian, you can find the original article here. 

Here is the translation of the interview in full:

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Cardinal José Saraiva Martins recounts the journey of Benedict XVI to Portugal and describes the full meaning of the Third Secret of Fatima: "The Pope and the Church are destined to suffer for a long time"


by Gianluca Barile


VATICAN CITY - He is the Cardinal of Fatima. And not just because he is Portuguese. There is something more, in fact, that binds Jose Saraiva Martins (pictured) to the place where the Virgin appeared to three shepherd children. It is a relationship based on love: the Love, with a capital L, of a child for his mother. It's made clear in the exclusive interview which this illustrious Prince of the Church granted to "Petrus" on his return to Rome after having accompanied the Pope personally in his recent apostolic voyage to the land of Portugal.


Eminence, may we ask you for a summary of the visit of Benedict XVI to Portugal?


"It was an extraordinary success: universal, undeniable: a great event that deserves to be recorded in golden letters in the annals of Church history. An immense joy not only for Portugal but for all the world. On the other hand, Fatima is the altar of the world, even the Cathedral of the world, because the Madonna came to that place to be a messenger, by means of the three shepherd children, of timeless values and, moreover, of great relevance in this particular historical period. I am referring to her calls for peace, for conversion to God, to the centrality of the Eucharist, to devotion to Christ, to repentance. These are very beautiful themes, which the Pope has reaffirmed clearly and without hesitation.”


Portuguese Catholics have not failed to rally around the Pope in this particular historical moment.


"Absolutely. They have proved to nurture an infinite affection for the Pope, the affection of a son for his father. And their presence at each ceremony, was the best response to the campaign of hate based on slander, carried out against the Pope and the Church. "


By the way: the number of pilgrims has been exceptional: more than half a million faithful took part in the one Mass at Fatima. Was that expected for the vigil?


"Frankly, no. Even the Pope was not expecting so much warmth, and so he enjoyed and was even more grateful for the welcome from the Portuguese, who have embraced him so and supported him as a real father. In this way, the inseparable bond linking the Roman Pontiff and the Portuguese was confirmed, dating back to when Portugal was not yet independent and the Archbishop of Braga came to Rome to ask the Pope to agree to declare the independence of this people from the rest of Spain. So to speak, the influence of the Pope is in the DNA, in the history, and in the culture of Portugal."


In what spirit did the Holy Father address this pilgrimage in Portugal, a few days after the enactment of laws favoring abortion and recognition of unmarried couples by the Socialist government led by Prime Minister Socrates?


"With great courage and simplicity, touching these issues with clarity and force, the Pope spoke with great freedom of spirit, not afraid to defend the dignity of human life and the unique value of natural marriage between man and woman (not forgetting the fine words on the relationship between faith and culture handed down in Lisbon), urging the Portuguese to do the same. They were appeals that made everyone reflect a little."


In Italy people would have cried out against the Church's interference in public affairs...

"But the Church always has an obligation to reaffirm the 'non-negotiability' of Christian values, since they are the heart and summit of the Gospel."


The most significant step was, without a shadow of a doubt, that of Fatima. But as a gesture of Benedict XVI has it been consigned to history?


"I was struck, in particular, by two moments: the human and spiritual intensity with which the golden rose was laid at the feet of the Madonna, and the fact that the Holy Father, having just arrived at the heliport of Fatima, wanted to go immediately, without any intermediate breaks, to the Chapel of the Apparitions to pray, kneeling for a long time at the feet of the Woman brighter than the sun."


Benedict XVI has been the third Pope to visit Fatima, after Paul VI and John Paul II (who went there three times). Which do you think was the most important of these journeys?


"There wasn't one journey more important than the others, but all were equally important. The Church is incarnate in time and in history. And Paul VI and John Paul II and Benedict XVI himself have all succeeded to perfection in speaking to the hearts of their contemporaries. Anyone who did not expect that from Benedict XVI was fooling himself. They should have known, in fact, that Cardinal Ratzinger has always followed the phenomenon of the Marian apparitions of Fatima with interest and admiration, and for this reason in the past he also presided at a world vigil for May 13 at the Cova da Iria. Like John Paul II, Benedict XVI is therefore a 'Pope of Fatima', albeit for different historical reasons."


When the Pope said that the persecution against the church is caused by her own members, was he referring only to the scandal of pedophilia in the clergy?

"First, an explanation is called for. We know well that the Church is also made up of sinners; and the priesthood, however, does not confer immunity from committing sins. But if the presence of sin in the Church is a matter of fact, this does not mean that it extends to the levels that certain newspapers would have us believe. Having said that, the Pope's speech certainly includes the pedophilia, but not only that. It is a more 'general' speech. How could we not think, really, of the disobedience to the Pope, the 'careerism', the divisions among the people of God and its pastors?"


Eminence, let us come now to the core of the so-called 'Third Secret of Fatima'. Benedict XVI explained that the prophecy has not ended, and that it did not exclusively relate to the attempt on John Paul II, but rather meant that the Pope would suffer persecution in every age.


"In the vision of the 'bishop dressed in white' who is shot dead, there is a description of the Passion of the Church and of its pastor, the Pope. The attack on Wojtyla fits perfectly in this context. But the Madonna wanted to prophesy something else, namely that the Church and the Pope were subject to persecution, sacrifice, and suffering in every age. Indeed, we notice it in history: it was so in the past, it is so today, it will be so tomorrow. The Church, indeed, is none other than Christ himself, incarnate no longer in a physical body but in a community of faith, hope and love. So, if the Church is Christ, we have to present once again the face of Christ crucified and disfigured, but not yielding to despair but with joy and optimism, thinking that after the Cross there is always the Resurrection; after Good Friday, Easter always comes. Christ died to rise again, so the Church too must suffer in order to defeat the darkness. The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity. We must be aware, as Jesus warned us once: 'If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you'. But let us not forget, he added: 'Non praevalebunt', the gates of hell shall not prevail. With this ultimate promise, we can be sure that despite the sins of some of her sons, despite sufferings, slanders, persecutions, and the hate campaigns carried out by the media, the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, will rise as the physical body of the Lord has already risen. We can be certain: the Church and the Pope will come out strengthened by the persecution."


After the Holy Father's words, some journalists and writers - Antonio Socci above all - have turned to the attack, claiming that the Vatican is hiding a fourth part of the mystery of Fatima in which the Virgin prophesies the apostasy of the Church. Can you give a direct testimony on the groundlessness of this theory?


"There is no fourth secret of Fatima at all, nor does the third refer to the apostasy of the Church. In 2000 I was assigned by John Paul II to see what was written by Sister Lucia and I can testify that there is nothing beyond what was made public in those years."


Another debate has been reopened about the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.


"Russia, as requested by Our Lady through Sister Lucia, was already consecrated by Venerable Pope Pius XII and John Paul II. So our Lady's wish has not been disregarded. It is true that Russia was not mentioned explicitly, but it is not perhaps part of the world? In consecrating the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at the same time Russia was also consecrated to her."

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I would like to express my thanks to Gianluca Barile for the interview itself, and to Richard Chonak for translating the article for use on Te Deum Laudamus! 

Further reading and links:

• Vatican webpage for Holy Father's Portugal visit (includes all homilies, discourses and other useful information)
• Vatican webpage for the Message of Fatima

I regret that I do not have time right now for moderation of comments on this subject.  Therefore, comments are "off" for this post.

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The Holy Father in Fatima - some good "pre-game" material

Many of us who grew up in the midst of Vatican II or thereafter, were not immersed into a culture of Marian devotion in our parishes.  In fact, in my childhood parish, the "We are Church" felt banners exemplified the kind of "devotion" practiced.  In the 70's, especially, Mary was considered passé, and Rosaries were something that old people did to get into heaven.  The old Hollywood movie, The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, was something we watched yearly, but putting it into practice was another story. 

How things are changing - Deo gratias!

HOLY FATHER IN FATIMA - MAY 11-14TH

The Holy Father will be in Fatima this week.  I already have my DVR set to capture it from May 11-14th (go to this page at EWTN and scroll down for coverage).

I wish I had time for a more extensive post, but I do not. If you are not familiar with Fatima, and even if you are, there some things you will want to read, preferrably ahead of this visit. 

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  Here is a brief overview of the visits the Blessed Mother had with the three children, and what was said. I found this overview very informative, and a quick read. 
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  You will see a whole lot of talk about the Third Secret, which some believe was only partically released.  I will get into this more in the coming weeks, but am waiting for some material.   For now, please familiarize yourself with the primary document the Secret of Fatima on the  released by the Vatican back in 2000.  It is extensive.  Read it in sections, even if you have to do it over days.  Don't neglect to read the position of the Holy See, and in particular, the theological commentary offered by then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.  You might need to read parts of that commentary more than once, as I did, and reflect on it.
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  Also, there will be some attention drawn to Jacinta and Francisco who were beatified 10 years ago.  If you read that overview, you will get some idea of just how much these young children suffered for the conversion of sinners.  See the beautiful homily by Pope John Paul II on that occassion. 

There is a book that some are reading called the "Fourth Secret of Fatima" by Antonio Socci.  I do not recommend reading this book at this time.  I am hoping to get a review which analyzes this book more thoroughly so that if you do read it, you can compare notes on this critical review, to the book.  More on this some time in the future.

I really think what we need to be doing right now, is not discussing whether the Third Secret was fully revealed or whether the consecration was done correctly, etc.  These things distract from the heart of the Fatima message: Prayer, penance, and conversion.

EDIT: Twitter Feed is updated.  This is the most efficient way to get news to you on my lunch hour, in the mornings and evenings, so check it out: @TeDeumBlog

Here is one example of something I just re-Tweeted, from Catholic News Service: Flying to Portugal, pope says abuse crisis “terrifying”.  It is a must-read!

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Early Screenings of "The 13th Day" - Locations

There are some places where you can view The 13th Day, including some locally, like Ss. Cyril & Methodius (October 30th). 

See the locations listings here

I can't wait to see this myself, though, I don't believe I'm available for the viewing on the 30th.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

The 13th Day - a new film about Fatima

I have to put this on my list of Catholic movies to watch.

Ignatius Insight Scoop has.....the scoop, including video clip trailers.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Fatima Devotions at Grotto Tomorrow - Friday!

Just a reminder that Assumption Grotto is holding Fatima Devotions the 13th of each month. This month (and most months, depending on when the 13th falls), there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00 until the 7:00pm Mass. Following Mass, I believe the Holy Rosary will be prayed, ( but what is below suggests someone may lead it during the Holy Hour). From the Grotto website:

13th of the Month Club News There was a good response for the inauguration of the first gathering of the 13th of the Month Club on January 13. The group is family friendly. This is a great opportunity for the entire family to come together at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to be formed by Our Lady in the spirituality of the Fatima Message.

Mark your calendar for Friday February 13. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the church from 6-7PM for private prayer. A volunteer may lead the Rosary during this time. Holy Mass begins at 7PM with a homily on some aspect of The Fatima Message. After Mass another period of exposition with public prayers of reparation to ask God’s Mercy on our country and our families during these times of uncertainty. The prayers will conclude with Benediction.

All are invited to the shrine lounge for a brief planning session and opportunity to obtain materials for further study of the Fatima Message and its applications in our present time

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Announcing: The 13th of the Month Club at Assumption Grotto

• Come to Pray, and Learn to Live the Fatima Message


• Join us on Tuesday January 13, 2009 Holy Mass at 6:00 p.m.


• Followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Holy Hour of Reparation ending with Benediction around 8pm

More from the email sent to me...

Afterwards all are invited to a Planning Session Meeting with Fr. Perrone in the Shrine Lounge

See the flyer above (click it to enlarge) for more details. Tell your friends and leave some flyers in your parish church. Hope to see you there

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

International Pilgrim Statue Schedule

The International Pilgrim Statue (Our Lady of Fatima) is in the metro Detroit area. I apologize for not posting the schedule sooner. There has been much going on and I have not been home much.

Monday, Sept 15
St. Albert The Great
4855 Parker St.
Dearborn Heights
313-292-0430
7pm Mass and Procession and Talk

Tuesday Sept. 16 OPEN

Wednesday Sept. 17
St. Joseph's Church
1828 Jay Street at Orleans just off Gratiot
Across from Eastern Farmer's Market
Detroit 313-831-6659
7pm Tridentine Mass and Talk

Thursday Sept 18
St. Josephat Church
691 East Canfield Ave.
Detroit (Across from Wayne State Medical School)
313-831-6659
7pm Tridentine Mass and Talk

Friday Sept 19
Sweetest Heart of Mary
4440 Russell Street (Corner of Canfield)
Detroit
7pm Tridentine Mass, Candlelight Procession Talk
313-831-6659

Saturday Sept.20
Polish Seminary on Orchard Lake OPEN TO PUBLIC
St. Mary's of Orchard Lake
3535 Indian Trail
Orchard Lake 248-683-0514
6pm Mass followed by a Procession with Statue
All night adoration open to public

Sunday Sept 21
9AM Mass followed by Concert
llAM Mass followed by Talk of Statue then
Procession with statue, All day Adoration
Closing Procession from Outdoor Lourdes Shrine
To Main Church with Statue.
Bishop Reiss likely will attend.



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Priest at 90 talks on 90th Anniversary of 4th Apparition of Fatima

Fr. Val Rykowski and Grotto's pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone

August 13th marked the 90th anniversary of the 4th apparition of Fatima. It just so happens that a local, 90 year old priest would be there to share the day with us.

"GOD LOVES YOU!!!"

Those were the words repeated often by Fr. Val during his visit to Assumption Grotto last night. But, when this priest says God loves you, it is not only a message of mercy, but one in which he gently admonishes us to love God back.

I have already been aware of Fr. Val Rykowski's popularity among Grotto people, parishioners of nearby Sts Cyril & Methodius in Sterling Heights where he is in residence, and Catholics from other parishes in southeast Michigan. However, I have something else to gauge it by: Requests for photos and video of the day. Unfortunately, there are few photos, but I am hoping some others who took pictures can supply me with a few to share with you. I should also be able to get some pics from the video itself, but the quality may not be there.

I only got a few shots off because I was busy doing something else: Shooting video of the day for Grotto archives. Seeing the video camera rolling throughout the evening - with Father's permission - brought a number of requests for a copy of the video. Knowing how well-loved Fr. Val is, I will do my best to work out a way for those interested to get a copy of the DVD at Grotto and Sts. Cyril & Methodius. It will take me some time to get it transferred and edited - something I am still learning how to do. There are many amateur mistakes, but I know that everyone is less interested in the clamshell than the pearl within the clam. I also want the final version approved by Grotto's pastor, and Fr. Val.

I had many people asking if I would be there for the August 13, 2007 Fatima Devotions to photograph because, "Fr. Val is coming". Father has had plenty of time for people to become attached to him. He is 90 years young. Let me tell you that this gentle priest did the whole nine yards last night.

He arrived around 6:15, accompanied by Fr. Marek - the new, young Associate Pastor of Sts. Cyril & Methodius. In a move classic to Fr. Val, after he partially vested for Mass and did his pre-Mass devotions, he heard confessions.

PASSIONATE DEPTH IN CELEBRATION OF THE MASS

I just have to empahsize some of my own text in bold here because it is a most important topic.

Father was the main celebrant for last evening's Mass, which he celebrated using the posture all too familiar to Grotto-goers: ad orientem at the wall altar. We were graced with a sermon, as well. For those who have never assisted at Mass celebrated by Fr. Val, all I can say is do it at least once. I have never been able to not cry when he celebrates, and last night was no exception even though I could not see his face, which is so often flowing with tears of pure love during Consecration. The love this priest has for the Eucharist just radiates in such a way as to give witness to the reality of the Sacrifice taking place during the Mass. In the past, I have encouraged seminarians and priests to experience his celebration of the Mass and I urge this again while there is time to witness it.

All I can say is that if you must celebrate the Mass facing the people, you want to learn from Fr. Val how Vatican II intended for it to be done. In my humble opinion, a video of him during the Consecration would be most beneficial from a training perspective. In contrast to what "expert liturgists" have been teaching priests-in-formation for decades, Fr. Val does not look at the people during Consecration. He looks at the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, thus teaching us it is where our focus should be. His speech is slow and with a depth that conveys the passion with which he celebrates. This is a priest who does not follow some kind of presentation-skill guidelines during the Mass to keep our attention. He is too busy celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass to be bothered with it. This is also a trait I have noticed among many more liturigcally traditional and doctrinally orthodox priests. Those who have experienced it know that Fr. Val is in another dimension altogether when he celebrates.

ROSARY PROCESSION, SKIT, & TALK

Teresa Tomeo once referred to Fr. Val as the Archdiocese of Detroit's version of the Energizer Bunny. I would say he was exceptionally energized for this event. Then again, all that is needed to get Father fired up is an opportunity to spread devotion to the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Trinity, and the Blessed Mother - in particular, Our Lady of Fatima.

Fr. Perrone leading the Rosary

Fr. Val prays along in front of the grotto as others are seen in the background with more banners used in the procession. The children put on a skit right behind where Father is standing, in the sanctuary.

Following Mass, Fr. Val joined in the procession to the grotto out behind the church - not a short walk. We later learned his sister had come also and she too came out to the grotto as we prayed the Rosary, led by Fr. Perrone. Then, children put on a skit in the grotto area to teach us the message given to the children of Fatima 90 years ago on August 13th, 1917. Unfortunately, none of the pics I took of the children came out. I had the video camera on the tripod and it was getting too dark to get a clear shot without flash and without having it mounted.

As if all of this wasn't enough, Fr. Val joyfully exited the Grotto around 8:30, then came over to the school gym for refreshments, then gave about a 25-30 minute talk. All I can say is that the talk was......classic Fr. Val.

Below you see a couple of pics taken during Father's talk. I always recognize when Fr. Val is present at any liturgical event in metro Detroit by the most beautiful stole that he wears, seen here as he points to Our Lady. Click on the pics to enlarge.

September 13, 2007 speaker: Fr. Eduard Perrone. Please join us with your children so that they may learn about Fatima.

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Article in UK news about Fatima

This was a decent article in The Independent out of the UK. It's not often that anything Catholic gets treated with decency. There are some errors, as is typical of secular media articles, but overall it's a switch to see Catholicism treated nicely.

The Big Question: Why is there a shrine at Fatima, and what is its significance for Catholics?

By Paul Vallely

Published: 24 May 2007

Why are we asking this question now?

The shrine at Fatima is regarded as the holiest site in Portugal, and it was there yesterday that the parents of Madeleine McCann made a pilgrimage to pray for a miracle in the search for the missing four-year-old. Indeed it is one of the most celebrated sites in Roman Catholicism.

So how did the shrine come to exist?

It is one of a handful of places where Catholic tradition has it that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has staged supernatural apparitions in modern times.

In 1917 three shepherd children reported visions of the Virgin Mary in fields outside the city of Fatima, north of Lisbon. They claimed that the visions continued from May to October, always on the 13th day of the month. The children said that the apparition gave them messages suggesting that the First World War, which was then raging, would end if Catholics devoutly said the prayer known as the Rosary.

Fatima is now one of the world's major centres of pilgrimage. Ten days ago some 300,000 pilgrims flocked there to mark the 90th anniversary of the date of the vision. The place is so iconic to the Portuguese that their national identity is said to be defined as: "Fado, Fatima and Football".

Did anyone else see the vision?

continue reading at The Independent (UK)...

Deo Gratias!