October 13 - Pray for Peace - The Message of Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima
The Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated as Our Lady of Fatima following the famous apparition to the three shepherd children -Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco- which took place during the First World War, in the summer of 1917. The Mother of God appeared six times near the town of Fatima, Portugal between May 13th and October 13th 1917 to the three children and told them that She had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child living in our century.

Through the children Mary urged prayer for the conversion of sinners and an end to the war, recitation of the Rosary, and works of penance. The message of Fatima included a call to conversion of heart, repentance from sin and a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially through praying the Rosary.

Our Lady of Fatima promised that the whole world would be in peace, and that many souls would go to Heaven if Her requests were listened to and obeyed. She told us that war is a punishment for sin; that God would punish the world for its sins in our time by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and persecution of the Holy Father, the Pope, unless we listened to and obeyed the command of God.

The message is an anguished appeal of our Heavenly Mother, Who sees us in great danger and Who comes to offer Her help and advice. Her message is also a prophesy, a clear indication of what was about to transpire infallibly in the near future, depending on our response to Her requests. But Mary also confided several "secrets" to the children, some of which Lucy subsequently transmitted.

The Secret actually consists of three parts, the first two of which have been publicly revealed. The first part of the Secret was a horrifying vision of hell where the souls of poor sinners go" and contained an urgent plea from Our Lady for acts of prayer and sacrifice to save souls. The second part of the Secret specifically prophesized the outbreak of World War II and contained the Mother of God's solemn request for the Consecration of Russia as a condition of world peace. It also predicted the inevitable triumph of Her Immaculate Heart following Russia's consecration and the conversion "of that poor nation" to the Catholic Faith.
This article was sent to me by St. Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY - OCT 7TH

THE SEVEN GREAT BLESSINGS OF THE ROSARY
In The Secret of the Rosary (p. 65), St. Louis De Montfort states:
"The Rosary recited with meditation on the mysteries brings bout the following marvelous results:
1. It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ;
2. It purifies our souls, washing away sin;
3. It gives us victory over all our enemies;
4. It makes it easy for us to practice virtue;
5. It sets us on fire with love of Our Blessed Lord;
6. It enriches us with graces and merits;
7. It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men, and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God."

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY
http://www.prayerflowers.com/Rosary.htm

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI - Feast Day Oct 4th

 THE PRAYERS OF ST. FRANCIS

                     

PEACE PRAYER
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;  and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

SAINT FRANCIS' MEDITATION PRAYER
 My God and my All!

SAINT FRANCIS' PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me
true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command. Amen.

DEVOTION TO SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
O beloved Saint Francis, gentle and poor, your obedience to God and your simple, deep love for all God’s creatures led you to the heights of heavenly perfection and turned many hearts to follow God’s will. Now, in our day, pray also for us, in our ministry to the many who come here searching for peace and intercede for us as we come before the Lord with our special requests.
 [Mention your special intention.]
 O blessed Saint of God, from your throne among the hosts of heaven present our petitions before our faithful Lord. May your prayers on our behalf be heard and may God grant us the grace to lead good and faithful lives. Amen.
Saint Francis of Assisi,  Pray for us. Amen.

PRAYER ASKING FOR MARY'S INTERCESSION BY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like Thee born in the world among women,
Daughter and Handmaid of the Most Highest King, the Heavenly Father,
Mother of Our Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit:
Pray for us with St. Michael the Archangel
and all the powers of Heaven and all the Saints
before Thy Most Holy and Beloved Son, the Lord and Master.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, ...