In Fatima, I prayed for you

FATIMA, a place
of silence and prayer

I am on leave, enjoying the summer at home, with my sister and my nephews.

It is a time to rest, to check on my health and to visit friends. My friend and classmate from the times of the seminary, D. António Francisco dos Santos, Bishop de Aveiro, took me to Fatima, and I had the opportunity of concelebrating in the Basilica and then in the Church of the Holy Trinity for the first time.

Fatima is a place of silence and prayer, where people come from everywhere in the world. As we walked around, a Venezuelan couple with two children asked the direction to the chapel of the continuous adoration of the Eucharist; and a young couple from California, asked in Spanish for the celebration of the mass. All come, young and old, with their suffering, looking for relief to their pain, trying to find peace and renewed strength.

In Fatima, through Mary, the mother of the Lord, we hear the first call of the Gospel: Repent and belief. We become aware of our sinfulness and the sinfulness of the world, and Mary helps us to come back to Jesus.  Some people are afraid of Mary, thinking that she distracts us and takes us away from Christ; however, it is not so. And in Fatima, that is very clear. Mary takes us by the hand and leads us to Jesus, giving us only one advice, as she did in the wedding of Cana: Do whatever he tells you (Jn 2:5). The celebration of the Eucharist has a central place in Fatima; the same being true about the sacrament of reconciliation. And there is the chapel for perpetual adoration of the Eucharist. Finally, there is the huge church built for the honour and praise of the Holy Trinity, because life and salvation have their origin in the outpouring love of the Holy Trinity.

In Fatima, we are invited to pray not only for us but for the world as well. We must pray for mercy and forgiveness for the whole world. Fatima invites us to become intercessors. And in Fatima, I prayed for all. May we be faithful to Spirit who dwells in our hearts.