M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear All,
Code:
October is always a "special" month for several reasons but this October the Pope is scheduled to consecrate the world on Oct. 13. What exactly does this mean? The announcement of this Consecration was made in August, and I posted an account which I had read in Zenit:
Vatican City, Aug 14, 2013 / 12:03 am (CNA).- Pope Francis will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this Oct. 13 as part of the Marian Day celebration that will involve the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.
Code:“The Holy Father strongly desires that the Marian Day may have present, as a special sign, one of the most significant Marian icons for Christians throughout the world and, for that reason, we thought of the beloved original Statue of Our Lady of Fatima,” wrote Archbishop Rino Fisichella...
Code:According to the Portuguese shrine's website, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima will leave for Rome on the morning of Oct. 12 and return on the afternoon of Oct. 13. The statue normally resides in the shrine’s Little Chapel of Apparitions.
Code:The archbishop said that “all ecclesial entities of Marian spirituality” are invited to take part in the celebration. Hundreds of movements and institutions that emphasize Marian devotion are expected to attend, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima says.
Code:The two-day observance includes an Oct. 12 pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Peter and moments of prayer and meditation. On Oct. 13, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Code:Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children in the village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. She warned of violent trials in the twentieth century if the world did not make reparation for sins. She urged prayer and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Code:At the request of Pope Francis, Cardinal Jose Polycarp, the Patriarch of Lisbon, consecrated the Pope’s pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, her feast day..
Code:
We will need to listen attentively to the words Pope Francis uses in his prayer of consecration in order to understand more fully why he is choosing to consecrate the world at this time, in a special way.
Other reasons that make October special for me personally are: it is the month dedicated in a particular way to the Rosary; and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on Oct. 7. The Feast is also known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. See [HERE](http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-10-07). October is also the month in which we celebrate feasts of some of my "favorite saint-friends" like, St. Therese of Lisieux, Oct. 1; St. Francis of Assisi, Oct. 4 and St. Teresa of Avila, Oct. 15. It is a glorious month in most of the United States weather-wise as we experience the changing colors of Autumn.
May we all open our hearts and minds to the wonders of God's work during October and in experiencing His Mercy in every day He gives us. :)