OUR LADY OF FATIMA

On Wednesday I received a call asking me if I as a Knight of St Columba could help out with the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady ofjFatima which was arriving in Downside Abbey the following day. I can refuse Our Lady nothing and was eager to get there. Downside Abbey is in Bath so it was quite a journey. We arrived just as the priest was beginning to read the Gospel and Our Lady of Fatima was already on the Altar. The Choir from Downside Abbey School, a fee paying school attached, began to sing a Fatima Hymn and there voices were so lovely. or was it their voices or something else, but a great feeling of love swept over me and tears came to my eyes. I remained in the Abbey until the early evening when a procession round the ground started which I had to leave to be escorted back home. During that day I prayed fervently to Mary in a way i had not experienced in my life. I prayed for all the children of my own family who were facing difficulties, my nephews and nieces, the friends I had in Basingstoke and their families and in a strange way I knew Our Lady was listening to me, especially when I prayed for myself and my unworthiness. There was a photo of the little shepherds, Francisco and Jacinto, Francisco died of a terrible Flu outbreak after the First World War, he was nine. Jacinta died a year later when she was ten. So I spoke to them both about what I wanted for others but somehow the face of Jacinta on the photo seemed to light up and look at me accusingly. It seemed to say "You have more problems than anyone and it is time you did penance" So I have started worrying about my own soul as well as other peoples' souls. That is something very advisable. IN the photo you will see three of the children of Downside Abbey School dressed up as Lucia, Francesco, and Jacinta, the three little shepherds of Fatima standing in front of Our Lady off Fatima. How I wish that all the adults I worry about, all the children who are so lost , could just have experienced the love I experienced for their hearts would surely burst with joy. But they do he a chance. The Pilgrim Statue is coming to Portsmouth Cathedral during g the August Bank Holiday. Please, Please Go. Our Mother Mary is almost desperate to meet you and bring you to her Son.

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